All articles by Patrick Frater – Page 14
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Japanese arthouse market consolidates
Japanese productionand distribution group Artist House has acquired Cinema Parisien, themicro-distributor that has specialised in French and other foreign-languagefilms in Japan.Artist House, whichoperates the Artist Film distribution company, says the deal is a horizontalexpansion that will complement its video distribution strengths.Its 2004 video slateincludes art-house titles including 21 Grams, Lost ...
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AFM: Tartan Films in horror double bill
The UK's Tartan Films has picked up The Park, the 3D horror film by Hong Kong director AndrewLau, better known for co-directing the sensational Infernal Affairs police trio with Alan Mak.Tartan has also picked up TheLast Horror Movie, the third feature fromWelsh director Julian Richards who shot the thrillers Silent ...
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Final February AFM says sayonara
A handful of high value deals for Japan and a good flow into the US eased the pressure. But the curtain-closing February AFM is more likely to go down in history as one short on hot product or deals volume.Arguably the biggest deal of the week was the sale of ...
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AFM: Cineclick Asia strikes Old Boy, Samaritan Girl deals
Korean sales house Cineclick Asia has sold Park Chan-Wook's Cannes-tipped thriller Old Boy and Kim Ki-Duk's Berlin competition film Samaritan Girl to Film House for Mexico.Old Boy was also sold to Gutek for Poland, while Samaritan was also sold to Golden Scene for Hong Kong.Despite previous press reports, Cineclick is ...
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AFM: Media Luna sells Russian comedy to US
Germany's Media Luna has wrapped a US deal for its Russian romantic comedy You I Love, which premiered in the Panorama section of last month's Berlin festival.Theatrical and video rights to the film, which was produced and directed by Olga Stolpovskaya and Dmitry Troitsky, were sold to Douglas Witkins' Picture ...
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Mirovision explores Antarctic
Korean indieproduction and sales house Mirovision has put together a varied slate for2004-5, headed by a big-budget mountaineering chiller that will shot at PeterJackson's facilities in New Zealand.Described as TheShining meets VerticalLimit, Antarctic Journalfeatures an expedition to the polar ice-cap that comes across the ghostlyremains of previous explorers.The film is ...
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AFM: Fortissimo backs rising art-house stars
Fortissimo Films hasgreenlit investments in upcoming productions by rising art-house directorsPierre Paul Renders and Pen-Ek Ratanaruang.Belgium's Renders,who previously made Venice 2001 film Thomas In Love, is to direct Mr Average, a French-language satirical romantic comedy thatshoots later this year.The producers are innegotiation with a major French star for the role ...
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AFM: Latido enjoys Two Tough sellers
New Spanish-basedsales house Latido has closed deals on its Berlin competition title YourNext Life (La Vida Que Te Espera) andwhat has proved to be surprise sales hit at AFM, Two Tough Guys (Dos TiposMuy Duros).La Vida was sold to Seville for Canada, Polyfilm forAustria, Denubius for the Czech Republic, TVR ...
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AFM: Strange Crime pays for Vision International
French seller VisionInternational has struck a number of deals on Strange Crime.The Roberto Andopicture was licensed to Gussi for Mexico, Soyuz for Russia, Victory forBenelux, Kinema Space for Korea, Camro for Scandinavia, PCV for Greece andEcuador, Bolivia and Peru to Venus.Vision sold LidiaBobrova's Baboussiato Starlight for Sweden, TVR for Romania, ...
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AFM: Eurocine picks up Czech Poets
French sales houseEurocine has picked up Czech picture The Poets Never Lose Hope, a comedy about middle age.Directed by DusanKlein, the film is the fifth in a series of bittersweet titles and stars PavelKriz, Michaela Badinkova, David Matasek. It is produced by Bio Illusion andPluto Film & Video.
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AFM: TF1 picks up Penn and Bardem's Face
TF1 International has picked up The Last Face, a romantic drama starring Oscar-nominee Sean Penn,Javier Bardem and Robin Wright Penn.The $20m film is to be directed by Erin Dignam, director of Loved, which also featured both the Penns, and Denial (aka Loon).It is being produced by Michael Humphrey.The story features ...
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Highpoint adds Advanced Warriors
UK sales house High Films& TV has picked up Advanced Warriors, a DVD movie directed by AndrewDymond of Bristol-based Lightworx Media.Inspired by the novels ofIan Livingstone, the picture adopts the tree format where every decision-makingopportunity is accompanied by a menu of options with different outcomes.Audiences are required to participate and ...
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Arthouse legends set for Cannes contention
A look down thelist of festival-friendly films likely to be ready for Cannes (12-23 May)suggests that Thierry Fremaux and his selection team have an embarrassment ofriches to pick from - and that Quentin Tarantino's jury will be weighingup the reputations of numerous art-house legends (see below for full list).At least ...
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Arthouse legends set for Cannes contention
A look down thelist of festival-friendly films likely to be ready for Cannes (12-23 May)suggests that Thierry Fremaux and his selection team have an embarrassment ofriches to pick from - and that Quentin Tarantino's jury will be weighingup the reputations of numerous art-house legends (see below for full list).At least ...
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AFM: Irvin sharpens Knife for Vine International Pictures
Dogs Of War and Hamburger Hill director John Irvin is to direct Knife Edge, a psychological drama about control of a familyfortune.The $15m picture is writtenby Robin Squire and Fiona Combe and executive produced by Combe and TharsiVanhuysse. Marie Vine of Vine International Pictures produces and handles worldsales.Vine also comes ...
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AFM: E Pictures executive to run Korea Pictures' brand new sales outfit
Korea Pictures, the indieproduction and distribution house behind many of Korea's most commerciallysuccessful pictures, is to strike out alone with its own sales venture.The new sales company, whichwill officially launch at Cannes, is to be headed by Cho Eun-jung, who mostrecently was a sales executive with E Pictures.The diversification intosales ...
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AFM: Shochiku unveils FX film Hinokio and three samurai flicks
Shochiku, the fast movingJapanese major, has unveiled a forthcoming slate that includes a trio ofsamurai action flicks and a high-powered special effects film Hinokio."These films are all verydifferent in nature, but posses a common edginess that will continue to defineShochiku's slate," said Takeo Hisamatsu, managing director of production andtheatrical distribution.Takahiko ...
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AFM: Gaga buys Japan on PS I Love You from Fortissimo
Fortissimo has reachedagreement with Gaga Communications for the sale to Japan of its Cannes-hopeful PSI Love You."We are thrilled that thisis a genuine AFM day one deal and shows that Japanese buyers are again feelingconfident enough to bid aggressively and close deals," said Fortissimo co-chiefWouter Barendrecht.The film, by Roger Dodger-director ...
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TF1 Int'l embarks on Leconte's Cambodian voyage
TF1 International has pickedup the new film by in-form French director Patrice Leconte.While finishing his Berlincompetition film Intimate Strangers(Confidences Intimes), Leconteshot Dogora, a voyage throughCambodia. The intensely personal picture uses an imaginary language throughoutand boasts powerful music by Etienne Perruchon, a renowned composer in thetheatre.Warner Bros will release thefilm in ...
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AFM: Rohmer floats with Funny Balloons
New French sales outfit Funny Balloons has picked up Latin American rights to Berlin competition film Triple Agent by Eric Rohmer and sold a raft of territories from its Berlin-AFM slate.Triple Agent - a period thriller shot almost entirely in interiors - is brought to market in other territories by ...