All articles by Nancy Tartaglione – Page 39
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Sichler steps into StudioCanal as Lenormand finally goes...
Frederic Sichler will take over as CEO of StudioCanal, European the film production and distribution division of Vivendi Universal, it was announced on Friday. He starts on Monday (Feb 3).The announcement follows weeks of speculation about a replacement for exiting president Richard Lenormand. Since late December, Lenormand has been rumoured ...
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Canal Plus bosses removed in latest executive cull
Following speculation last week, Canal Plus Group president Xavier Couture has reportedly been replaced at the head of the company by Bertrand Meheut. According to the reputable Le Monde newspaper, Couture was fired on Friday afternoon by Vivendi Universal chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou. His successor, Meheut, was previously managing director of ...
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Perrine Teze to step down as head of TFM
Perrine Teze, managing director of Miramax-TF1 joint French distribution venture, TFM Distrbution, is planning to leave her post and head back to the TF1 Group. According to widespread industry rumours, Teze, who is pregnant, has apparently decided to slow down her pace and will stay within the cinema arm of ...
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Ozon's 8 Women leads French Cesar nominations
Francois Ozon's 8 Women leads the nominations for France's Cesar Awards, which were announced on Friday in Paris. Ozon's all star ensemble piece received 12 nominations, while Roman Polanski's The Pianist received 10 nods, Constantin Costa-Gavras' Amen got seven and Cedric Klapisch's Europudding (L'Auberge Espagnol) sixWhile it's no shock to ...
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Vivendi Universal closer to selling US entertainment assets
Vivendi Universal, the European media conglomerate which owns Universal Studios and StudioCanal, has moved up a gear in its attempt to dispose of its US entertainment assets. According to reports, Vivendi Universal has appointed lawyers to help it unwind its relationship with Barry Diller, the former Fox chief who oversees ...
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Hallyday, Sagnier receive French awards
In a novel combination of veteran and debutante, Johnny Hallyday (left)and Ludivine Sagnier (right)will receive the Jean Gabin and Romy Schneider awards for 2003. The prize, which has been awarded for over 20 years, often goes to a new face but with the 60 year old rocker Hallyday being singled ...
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France's EuroPalaces maintains market dominance
EuroPalaces held on to its status as top French exhibitor last year. The company, a marriage between Pathe and Gaumont's cinema circuits, attracted 40.6 million visitors in its multiplexes across France for the year - out of total national ticket sales of 185 million.The strong showing helped EuroPalaces' balance ...
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Rendez-Vous heralds vintage year for French Cinema
With French film riding high across the globe, 2003 looks primed for a good start at the Rendez-Vous of French Cinema which begins today. Approximately 340 foreign buyers will descend on Paris to screen films, meet with sales agents and cut deals at the five-year old event which many consider ...
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Breillat starts phase two of Anatomie d'Enfer shoot
Controversial director Catherine Breillat (pictured) heads out to Portugal this weekend to begin shooting phase two of her latest film, Anatomie d'Enfer. The film is based on her book Pornocratie and will once again examine the depths of sexual compulsion.Working with porn star Rocco Siffredi for the second time since ...
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StudioCanal faces crippling staff losses
France's StudioCanal, which once boasted ambitions of being Europe's biggest film production outfit, looks to be heading towards total meltdown.It had recently been rumoured that hefty job cuts lay ahead at the company as parent Vivendi Universal sought cost cutting measures - and reported figures placed that number at around ...
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Gerardmer horror fest unveils competition line-up
The Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival has announced its jury and film line-up for this year's event which runs from January 29 to February 2. Presiding over the horror film festival jury is Exorcist director William Friedkin (pictured). Other jury members: Cube director Vincenzo Natali, Crimson Rivers writer Jean-Christophe Grange, actresses ...
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Exception adds co-production to sales activities
Exception, the company minted out of former StudioCanal boutique Wild Bunch, has announced it is adding co-production to its activities. The outfit, started by former Wild Bunch and StudioCanal executives Vincent Maraval, Alain de la Mata, Vincent Grimond and Brahim Chioua will now provide an international co-producing service alongside its ...
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Trumer takes over at UIP France
UIP's French outpost has announced the arrival of Camille Trumer as managing director. Trumer replaces former Polygram executive Jean-Paul Rougier who held the top spot at UIP France since July 2000.The newly-installed Trumer has a varied background including a stint at UGC during which he passed from director of UGC ...
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French cinema admissions slide in 2002
French admissions dipped last year but the country still recorded its second biggest box-office tally in 20 years, according to the latest figures from French exhibition body the National Cinema Federation (FNCF).The 183 million tickets sold last year marked a 1.5% fall on last year's 186 million, but still resulted ...
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Veteran French sales company, Mercure in liquidation
France's veteran sales company Mercure Distrbution has been liquidated and will cease its activities in January. One of the last true independent sales agents in France, Jacques Le Glou had recently been rumoured to be selling his catalogue as a way to raise cash but was unable to stave off ...
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Jean-Jacques Annaud begins shooting Two Brothers
After his 1988 film The Bear, Veteran French director Jean-Jacques Annaud is returning to the animal kingdom with a tale of two tigers. The veteran filmmaker, whose recent efforts include last year's Enemy At The Gates and 1997's Seven Years In Tibet, is currently shooting Two Brothers - a tale ...
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Alain Resnais prepares musical comedy for New Year shoot
After a five year hiatus, veteran filmmaker Alain Resnais is back with his next project, Pas Sur La Bouche. True to form, Resnais returns with a musical comedy since his last effort, the phenomenally well-received On Connait La Chanson.Pas Sur La Bouche is an adaptation of an operetta originally written ...
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France's Xilam lines up 3-D Stupid Invaders
Xilam Animation is moving forward on a 3-D feature version of Stupid Invaders, a film company founder Marc du Pontavice calls "a Shrek-like family" entertainment. The ambitious project is budgeted at Euros18m and will start production in June of 2003. Du Pontavice, an animation guru who left Gaumont four years ...
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Gerardmer festival reveals first details of 2003 edition
The Gerardmer festival has announced the first details surrounding its 2003 vintage which will run from January 29 to February 2, 2003. On the jury of the horror film fest are Jean-Pierre Jeunet and his former filmmaking partner Marc Caro along with Brotherhood of the Wolf star Samuel Le ...
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USA Interactive accuses Vivendi Universal of tax avoidance
While Jean-Rene Fourtou and Barry Diller attempt to unravel some of the complexities in their relationship, Diller's USA Interactive has stepped into the melee accusing Vivendi Universal of trying to avoid tax payments of over $600m in conjunction with last December's sale of USA Networks to Vivendi Universal.In a filing ...