All News articles – Page 5403
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Eagle soars with Intermedia trio
Newly-recapitalised Italian distributor Eagle Pictures is finalising the acquisition of three titles from Guy East and Nigel Sinclair's Intermedia Films in a deal that is expected to lead to a long-term distribution arrangement.Eagle co-founder and chief executive officer Stefano Dammicco confirmed that the companies are negotiating a multi-picture deal in ...
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Bertelsmann exits AOL joint ventures
European media giant Bertelsmann and America Online (AOL) have decided to patch up their differences over AOL's expansion strategy. Under a deal heralded as a $250m "strategic global alliance" Bertelsmann has secured an outlet for its on-line content and has agreed to sell its interests in AOL Europe and AOL ...
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Telefilm Canada suspends Cinar's federal funding
Cinar''s current production activities could be at risk as financing from federal funding body Telefilm Canada has been suspended pending the results of investigations into the company''s activities. Canadian Television has also cut off its funding to Cinar.Once a stock market darling with a wholesome family image, Cinar has been ...
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Jacob's Presidential Role
The following Q&A appeared in Screen International, the weekly, on March 10, on the occasion of Gilles Jacob's elevation to president of the Cannes Film Festival.While his name does not often appear on the lists of Hollywood power brokers, the super-rich or the stars to watch, Gilles Jacob is arguably ...
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TF1 chief accuses Canal Plus of monopoly position
Patrick Le Lay, chairman of French broadcaster TF1 which part owns the TPS digital platform, has launched a fresh attack on Canal Plus over the on-going issue of access to pay-TV rights.Le Lay has written to state film body CNC accusing Canal Plus, which controls rival platform Canal Satellite, of ...
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Russian actor prevented from shooting in space
Plans to send Russian actor Vladimir Steklov to the Mir space station to shoot a feature film have fallen through because the film-makers have been unable to raise finance for the project.Russian Aerospace Agency spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko said the actor will not travel to Mir due to the "nonfulfilment of ...
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Mexican film set to prosper despite dubbing law
A ruling by Mexico's Supreme Court to permit the dubbing of foreign films into Spanish has thrown local filmmakers into a panic, but some observers believe the current unprecedented crop of local box office hits can withstand the changes. Over the past 12 months, at least four Mexican films have ...
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AFMA launches production loan guarantee scheme
The American Film Marketing Association (AFMA) has clinched a major new independent financing initiative, reaching agreement with Export-Import Bank Of The United States (Ex-Im) to furnish US AFMA members (producers and lenders) with film production loan guarantees.The agreement is revolutionary in that it guarantees the production loan and not the ...
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Quiero secures output deal with Universal
Quiero Television, the Spanish group which is poised to launch Europe's second digital terrestrial broadcasting operation, has struck its first output deal with a major studio. The outfit, previously known as Onda Digital, is poised to unveil a wide-ranging supply deal with Universal Studios. The deal, which is arranged through ...
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Roberts smashes box office again
Julia Roberts confirmed her place in the very highest pantheon of movie stars over the weekend with a spectacular $28.2m opening for her latest tour de force Erin Brockovich. The story of a real-life single mother who won a record settlement for victims of water contamination, the movie had won ...
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Railroad Man sweeps Japan Academy Awards
Railroad Man, a comeback film for Japanese screen legend Ken Takakura which cleaned up at the Japanese box office last year, swept all major prizes at the 1999 Japan Academy Awards. In addition to selecting the film as best picture and veteran Yasuo Furuhata as best director, Academy voters named ...
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Iosseliani appointed head of Camera d'Or jury
Veteran Georgian director Otar Iosseliani has been appointed as head of the Camera d'Or jury as the Cannes festival begins to take shape. The prize, given during the closing ceremony of the official selection, is awarded to the best first feature in any section of the festival. Iosseliani, whose films ...
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Marcus wins Miramax, Irish Film Institute award
Shimmy Marcus is the winner of the 1999 Miramax award which was first established by Harvey Weinstein and the Film Institute of Ireland in 1994. The award, valued at IR£10,000 ($12,600), is for Marcus'' thriller script, Headrush. The award was established to develop the writing of new feature-length screenplays in ...
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Sony, Dubbing Brothers team up for German launch
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and French dubbing specialist Dubbing Brothers have unveiled plans to build a $4.5m (DM9m) state-of-the-art digital facility at the Babelsberg studios outside Berlin.SPE will take a 25% stake in the venture - which is called Dubbing Brothers Germany (DBG) - and contribute technical expertise and ...
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Seldin takes up production role at Top Cow
Spike Seldin has been named president of production for the film and television division of comic book publisher Top Cow Productions. Seldin was formerly vice president of original programming for Turner Network Television (TNT) from 1996-99. Top Cow is the third largest publisher of American comic books worldwide and its ...
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Gilliam's Quixote saddles up with European backers
After tilting in vain at so many financing windmills for the past year, Terry Gilliam has finally lined up a combination of European funding partners for his long-cherished The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.French majors Pathe and Le Studio Canal Plus are teaming up with French production outfit Hachette Premiere ...
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Dindo, Fox to be feted at Doc Aviv
Tel Aviv''s second International Documentary Film Festival - Doc Aviv - will feature tributes to Swiss documentary maker Richard Dindo and UK film-maker Jennifer Fox.Fox will present four episodes from her nine-hour series An American Love Story at the event, which takes place April 21-26. Doc Aviv will also feature ...
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Frankie's Comeback wins Pathe Production Prize
The first Pathe Production Prize has gone to Frankie's Comeback, a comedy that will now be produced through UK National Lottery franchise Pathe Pictures.The project, written by former theatre actor Bernard Wright, was selected from the three winners of the inaugural Orange Prize for Screenwriting. It follows a washed-up showman ...
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Edinburgh festival to host Ophuels retrospective
Director Max Ophuels is the recipient of this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival retrospective, an extensive showcase of a film-maker's oeuvre that was dedicated to France's Robert Bresson last year.The German film-maker began his career as a stage actor and director in the roaring 20s before fleeing the country when ...
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Piracy stunting growth of Italian video market
Italy''s sell-through video market was worth (lira708bn) in 1999 - more than the beer and ice-cream markets - according to a report from trade organisation Univideo. The rental market in 1999 was worth (lira300bn). However the report also found that market growth is being restricted by piracy and the reluctance ...