Latest – Page 478

  • News

    Yu establishes Ming Yue Tang to develop Chinese co-productions

    2007-04-10T14:43:00Z

    Hong Kong-based production house October Films has established a Beijing-based company, Ming Yue Tang Film and TV Cultural Ltd, to develop Chinese-language co-productions between China, Hong Kong and Korea. Daniel Yu, former COO of Andy Lau's Focus Films, will be in charge of developing the company's first four projects. Yu ...

  • News

    Japan's JDC sets up international acquisition fund

    2007-04-09T17:44:00Z

    Japan Digital Contents Trust Inc (JDC) has established a foreign film acquisition fund in partnership with three Japanese distributors.The first phase of the 'Cinema Trust: Acquisition Fund' will provide from $16.76m-$33.52m (Y2b-Y4b) for the acquisition and distribution of foreign-produced feature films. The three distribution partners, chosen for their proven success ...

  • News

    300, Bean 2 lead spectacular international weekend

    2007-04-09T05:26:00Z

    300 returned to winning ways as Warner Bros Pictures International's (WBPI) action hit beat Mr Bean's Holiday by a whisker to the number one spot overseas.The film added an estimated $32m from 6,500 prints in 61 markets to raise the tally to $173m. It shot to the top in Germany ...

  • News

    Industry has mixed reactions to HanWay-Celluloid merger

    2007-04-04T16:20:00Z

    The announcement yesterday of the merger between HanWay Films and Celluloid Dreams to create a new combined company, dreamachine, has provoked a mixed response from the European film industry. Some have welcomed the consolidation of the two companies. For example, Tartan Films founder Hamish McAlpine applauded the move. 'Hanway and ...

  • News

    Love, Betelnut conquer Hong Kong film festival awards

    2007-04-04T12:16:00Z

    Malaysian director Tan Chui-mui and China's Yang Heng continued their awards sweep at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) yesterday where both picked up prizes in the Asian Digital Competition. Tan's Love Conquers All, about a young woman involved in an unconventional relationship in the big city, was presented ...

  • News

    Rang De Basanti leads Idea IIFA Awards nominations

    2007-04-04T11:47:00Z

    The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has announced nominations for the 2007 Idea IIFA Awards, which will be given out in Sheffield, UK, in June.In the main categories, hit Rang De Basanti led the nominations with 14 nods. Omkara scored 11 and Lage Raho Munnabhai and Dhoom 2 with 10 ...

  • News

    Korean film companies join forces to fight piracy

    2007-04-04T09:29:00Z

    The Korean film industry has formed a coalition of 78 film companies which have banded together to fight piracy. The newly announced Filmmakers Council brings together member companies from the Korean Motion Picture Producers Association and the Association of Film Companies. The council blames piracy for the downfall of the ...

  • News

    HanWay and Celluloid Dreams merge to create dreamachine

    2007-04-03T15:05:00Z

    In a move that will shake up the international sales world, Jeremy Thomas' UK-based HanWay Films and Hengameh Panahi's Paris-based Celluloid Dreams are planning to merge. The new sales, production and financing venture, dreamachine, will be based in London, Paris and Toronto. Financial terms have yet to be disclosed, but ...

  • News

    Yubari film festival to relaunch under original name

    2007-04-03T13:49:00Z

    The Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (YIFFF) will reopen under its original name and mandate in late February 2008. The announcement was made by the non-profit organisation (NPO) Yubari Fanta which is the nickname of the festival. The NPO was set up by the citizens of the financially troubled city ...

  • News

    Thai horror Alone opens at top of local box office

    2007-04-03T10:54:00Z

    Thai horror Alone, the hugely anticipated follow-up to smash hit Shutter, lived up to expectations with a strong opening weekend in Thailand, earning approximately $1m. The film beat Mr Bean's Holiday which debuted in second place and edged out last week's number one Ghost Rider which dropped to third place. ...

  • News

    Taiwanese drama Spider Lilies blossoms in home market

    2007-04-03T10:36:00Z

    Zero Chou's idol drama Spider Lilies had a strong opening this weekend in Taipei, securing $71,400 on four prints for independent distributor Atom Cinema, and clinching fifth position in the chart. The film's striking screen average of $17,850 is the third largest of the year, behind only 300 and Ghost ...

  • News

    Korean film industry angered by free trade agreement

    2007-04-03T10:27:00Z

    Amidst heated protests, South Korea and the US yesterday completed talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) which will have significant effects on local film and media if ratified. The local Ministry of Culture and Tourism also quickly announced contingency plans. Foremost in local filmmakers' concerns, the new FTA would ...

  • News

    Jeonju fest to open with Offroad, close with Exiled

    2007-04-02T12:23:00Z

    The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) today announced the line-up for its eighth edition, which will kick off with the world premiere of Offroad by Han Seung-ryong and close with Johnnie To's Exiled. Han was previously a co-editor on films such as E J-yong's Untold Scandal and Jang Sun-Woo's Resurrection ...

  • News

    Imagica Robot acquires majority share in animation company

    2007-04-02T10:21:00Z

    Japanese post-production giant Imagica Robot Holdings (IRH) has acquired a majority share in animation company Genco, which now becomes a subsidiary in the company's contents division. IRH announced the investment as part of its strategy to strengthen its animation production and licensing business. Genco will collaborate with IRH group company, ...

  • News

    CR Land, Shanghai Film Group invest in Jia Zhangke's 24 City

    2007-04-02T10:18:00Z

    Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke has announced that he is set to direct a film project, tentatively titled 24 City, in the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province. The project, which includes a feature film and documentary, will be jointly financed by Shanghai Film Group, Jia's Xstream Pictures and real estate ...

  • News

    Singapore's Scorpio East to distribute Shaw Bros titles

    2007-04-01T10:53:00Z

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has licensed Singapore video distribution rights to over 500 titles from its Shaw Brothers' film library to Singapore 's Scorpio East under a long-term agreement. Scorpio East will distribute titles ranging from comedies and martial arts to period dramas and action movies. Key titles include films ...

  • News

    Seoul unveils first foreign production incentives

    2007-03-30T17:57:00Z

    Seoul Metropolitan City Government has announced its first incentives for foreign film and television shoots to take place in the South Korean capital. The government has allocated $532,000 for incentives out of a $745,000 fund meant to promote tourism through marketing the city of Seoul in visual media. The city's ...

  • News

    Columbia Asia acquires worldwide rights to Chow's A Hope

    2007-03-30T06:00:00Z

    Sony's Hong Kong-based content arm, Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA), has acquired worldwide rights, excluding China, to Stephen Chow's latest comedy feature A Hope. Chow wrote, directed and is starring in the film which was shot in China late last year. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in ...

  • News

    Chan exits Hong Kong's Media Asia Distribution

    2007-03-29T14:10:00Z

    Jeffrey Chan, head of distribution and sales at Hong Kong producer-distributor Media Asia, is leaving his position after five years with the company. Chan, whose last day will be Saturday (March 31), hasn't announced his next move and said he would be taking a short break in the interim. Media ...

  • News

    Lost star Yunjin Kim joins cast of Prime's Seven Days

    2007-03-29T14:06:00Z

    Korean crossover actress Yunjin Kim is attached to star in Prime Entertainment's crime thriller Seven Days (working title). Best known for her performances in the hit TV series Lost from US network ABC, she first garnered attention with her role in the watershed 1999 hit Shiri. Seven Days will be ...