All News articles – Page 5012
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Spain's digital satellite platforms get qualified greenlight for merger
The planned pay TV merger between Spain's two digital satellite platforms - Via Digital and Canal Satelite Digital (CSD) - got a qualified green light this week from the nation's Competition Defense Court (Tribunal de Defensa de la Competencia).The Court outlined ten key conditions for the merged platform, including that ...
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Hubert Bals Fund distributes Euros 330,000 to 23 projects
Twenty-three projects from non-Western filmmakers are to receive a total of Euros 330,000 in grants from the International Film Festival Rotterdam's (IFFR) Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), as was decided during the fund's autumn selection round. The selection includes six projects from Argentina, two from Brazil, as well as works by ...
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Bulgaria adds Yesterday's Lunch to Oscar hopefuls
As one of the last country's to submit its Oscar entry Bulgaria's submission for next year's Academy Awards is a Bulgarian-Macedonian co-production, Warming Yesterday's Lunch ('Podgryavane Na Vcherashniya Obed). Based on a script written by Mile Nedelkovski from the book of the same name, the film was directed by ...
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German, Israeli film funds sign joint project agreement
German regional film fund Filmstiftung NRW and the Israel Film Fund have signed a deal to develop relations between the two film industries.The "Joint Project" agreement, which initially is to run for two years, was signed during this week's REEL IL 02 showcase of new Israeli student work at the ...
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Messier diary hits French bookstores
Jean-Marie Messier delivers his version of events during his tumultous reign at Vivendi Universal, with the publication in France today of "Mon Vrai Journal" (My True Diary). Excerpts of the book already published in Le Monde reveal the work to be not quite a tell-all nor a memoir, but more ...
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Brit horror enjoys impressive international debut
British horror title Deathwatch received a stunning international box office debut last weekend in Hong Kong. Launching on just 19 screens on Nov 7 the film grossed a massive $192,564 (HK$1.5m) to take the top spot from Warner Bros' Ghost Ship.Starring Jamie Bell, in his first role since his BAFTA-winning ...
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UK cinema launches distribution venture to pick up Kurdish titles
UK arthouse venue The Rio Cinema has launched a new distribution venture, acquiring UK rights to two films showing in the London Kurdish Film Festival - Handan Ipekci's Hejar and Jano Rosebiani's Jiyan.The Rio Cinema bought Hejar from Menemsha Films and, jointly with the Kurdish Film Festival Organising Committee, Jiyan ...
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Scottish film production enjoys mini-boom
Swimming against the tide of downbeat news from the UK sector, Scotland is currently experiencing a mini-boom in film and television production.Basking in the continuing festival acclaim and awards buzz for The Magdalene Sisters, Morvern Callar and Sweet Sixteen, Scotland was hailed as 'the new hotbed for British filmmaking' by ...
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French/Czech Simply Sirena launched in Prague
Prague-based production houses Sirena and Simply Cinema have announced a merger, with the new firm looking to capitalise on a French-Czech ownership, pursuing Czech-made co-productions for a pan-European audience.Simply Cinema, founded in 1993 by Czech producer Jaroslav Boucek, who produces films from acclaimed director Vladimir Michalek (Autumn Spring, Angel Exit), ...
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Gil Junger starts shooting If Only
If Only, the first UK collaboration between Box Film and Intermedia, has started shooting in London with a cast headed by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul NichollsDirected by Gil Junger, whose credits include 10 Things I Hate About You, the American girl in London romance is being produced by Junger ...
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Lucas, Valenti, Evans among PGA award honorees
George Lucas, Jack Valenti, Rita Wilson and Robert Evans will receive special honours at the 14th Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards on Jan 16, 2003. Lucas will receive the second annual Vanguard Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in new media and technology. The film-maker said in a statement ...
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Europe wakes up to Insomnia
Insomnia, British director Christopher Nolan's follow-up to his acclaimed Memento, was launched into three of its final European territories last weekend, racing straight up the charts.Opening in France on Nov 6 for Warner Bros, Insomnia shot into the top spot, displacing UIP's Red Dragon after just one week. The thriller ...
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Six LA managers team for new management outfit
Influential LA managers Suzan Bymel, Guymon Casady, Eric Kranzler, Evelyn O'Neill, Daniel Rappaport and David Seltzer have joined forces to create an as yet unnamed powerhouse management outfit. A brief group statement issued today read: "The six of us were drawn together by our shared philosophy, values and sensibilities." Before ...
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UK's Prism Leisure acquires Odyssey
UK video and DVD distributor Prism Leisure has acquired the Odyssey group of companies, distributor of titles including Merchant Ivory's Howards End and Scum.The acquisition comes hard on the heels of Prism's take-over of home entertainment merchandising operation Music & Video International. The budget trade distributor now boasts a catalogue ...
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Euro animation enjoys production surge
Production of animated feature films in Europe is at an all-time high, according to a study of the industry published by Cartoon, the European animation association. Some 34 films are currently in production or about to be released in cinemas, according to the report. This compares with 56 animated films ...
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Ireland appoints veteran producer as censor
The Irish Minister for Justice has appointed film and television producer John Kelleher (pictured) as the new Irish Film Censor. Kelleher takes up his post in April 2003, succeeding Sheamus Smith who has held the position since 1986.John Kelleher is a film and television producer and a former RTE television ...
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Spread betting begins on winter blockbusters
With high profile franchise instalments Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, James Bond's 20th official outing Die Another Day and The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers all released in the next five weeks much speculation surrounds their box office potential and how they might effect each other.Cantor ...
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Beyond takes world rights on Conspiracy Of Silence
Australian-owned Beyond Films has picked up world rights on UK drama Conspiracy Of Silence.Written and directed by John Deery, the Ireland-set film explores celibacy in the Catholic church and was produced by Flick Features, with backing from Little Wing Films and Mogirl Films.Hugh Bonneville, John Lynch, Jonathan Forbes and Brenda ...
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Sandrew Metronome picks up Finnish kung-fu comedy
Sandrew Metronome has picked up all Scandinavian rights (except for Finnish TV rights) for first-time Finnish director Aj Annila's kung fu-fantasy-comedy Jade Warrior which was presented to international producers at this week's Mannheim Meetings co-production market.Blind Spot Pictures, the Finnish co-producer of Lars von Trier's Dancer In The Dark, plans ...
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UK's Winchester signs seven-year deal with Universal
Winchester Entertainment said Tuesday it has struck a seven-year video distribution deal with Universal Pictures' UK arm.Winchester, which launched its UK theatrical distribution operation this year with Lantana, receives an advance from Universal as well as ongoing royalties.The studio is expected to start releasing Winchester titles on video and DVD ...