All articles by Screen International correspondents – Page 2

  • News

    European Commission approves new UK tax regime

    2006-11-22T14:55:00Z

    The European Commission has approved the UK's new tax credit but has revised the cultural test that decides which films qualify for support.The breaking of the deadlock that had delayed the incentive has been widely welcomed. The new tax credit - available to films spending 25% of their budget in ...

  • News

    European cinemas back single digital standard

    2006-11-21T06:30:00Z

    The development of digital cinema in Europe took a significant step forward with the conference of the influential Europa Cinemas network of independent theatres reaching a consensus on a single global standard."We can now say that there's total agreement that digital cinema and digital distribution worldwide should only have one ...

  • News

    Skillset and Film London launch bursary scheme

    2006-11-19T06:30:00Z

    UK agencies Skillset and Film London have launched a bursary scheme providing up to 80% of the cost of short course training for film professional.The initiative covers training in business, technical and craft skills as well as related issues like health and safety.The bursaries are funded by Skillset's Film Skills ...

  • News

    Aria Films appointed to support Cinecitta in the UK

    2006-11-16T04:00:00Z

    Aria Films has been appointed as the UK intermediary of Rome-based studio, Cinecitta.Carlo Dusi's London-based Aria will help its Italian partner try to expand its international production work, with particular emphasis on post-production facilities. "Cinecitta' can clearly compete on an international playing field in terms of their post-production facilities, pricing ...

  • News

    Beta Cinema's AFM success includes global sales for German Oscar hope

    2006-11-16T04:00:00Z

    Germany's Beta Cinema says it made 30 deals at this year's AFM, starting with further global success for its Stasi thriller, The Lives Of Others.Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's German Oscar entry sold to South Korea (Eureka), Singapore, Malaysia (Cathay), Portugal (Ecofilmes), Thailand (J-Bics) and Hong Kong (Edko). Talks with a ...

  • News

    First Light appoints two new directors

    2006-11-15T18:00:00Z

    The UK-based young film-makers project First Light Movies has appointedtwo new directors.Carolyn Dailey, head of TimeWarner's European Policy Office and MarcBoothe, producer of UK hit Bullet Boy will help guide an initiative that hashelped 10,000 young filmmakers on 750 short films since 2001.First Light distributes £1.1m of Lottery money, through ...

  • News

    Leading Bollywood stars join UK BAFTA event

    2006-11-15T06:30:00Z

    BAFTA and film body Screen WM are bringing major Bollywood talent to the UK second city of Birmingham this week. (November 17-19)The Mela '06 event at the National Exhibition Centre will feature film screenings and live interviews with Indian superstar husband and wife Ajay Devgan and Kajol and Saif ...

  • News

    Ealing Studios gets permission for redevelopment

    2006-11-14T19:00:00Z

    Ealing Studios has received planning permission for the second phase of a $95m (£50m) redevelopment that it believes will support ambitious plans to expand production. Work will begin this month on multimedia office and production space blocks to be finished at the end of next year. Around 25,000 square feet ...

  • News

    BVI takes UK rights to comedy I Want Candy

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Fragile Film Distribution - the sales arm of Ealing Studios - has licensed the UK theatrical and DVD rights for comedy I Want Candy to BVI. BVI (UK) is planning to release the comedy, which stars Carmen Electra alongside Tom Riley, Tom Burke and Michelle Ryan, next year. ...

  • News

    Sony takes DVD rights to self-distributed romantic comedy

    2006-11-13T15:00:00Z

    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has signed the DVD distribution rights to Ed Blum's British romantic comedy Scenes of a Sexual Nature.The film is the most successful self-distributed film to be released in UK theatres, taking more than $150, 000 (£80,000) at the box office. It was released through The ...

  • News

    Adkins named Head of Content at BBC Worldwide

    2006-11-13T12:00:00Z

    BBC Worldwide has appointed Jemma Adkins as Head of Content at its Digital Media division as Head of Content. She will be responsible for sourcing the best programming and digital content for the global digital media business, including BBC Worldwide's VOD and mobile offering and its proposed commercial iPlayer.Her ...

  • News

    Blockbusters boost Skillset UK training fund

    2006-11-13T04:00:00Z

    The UK Skills Investment Fund (SIF) has reached the £4m ($7.6m) mark thanks to the success of blockbusters such as Sony's Casino Royale, Working Title's Bean 2 and Warner Bros' Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix.The SIF is a levy on theatrical productions, collected by UK body Skillset, ...

  • News

    Eichmann biopic begins shooting in Hungary and Malta

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Shooting begins in Budapest and Malta next week on E-Motion's biopic of Adolf Eichmann.Eichmann, starring Thomas Kretschmann, portrays the events leading up to the capture of the Nazi war criminal by Israeli agents and his 1962 execution.Principal photography on the UK, Hungary, Belgium and the US co-production, directed by Robert ...

  • News

    Benson joins The Agency

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Confetti producer Ian Benson has joined The Agency in a new role dedicated to new and established film and TV directors. The London-based business represents writers for film, television, radio and the theatre. It also represents directors and film and television rights in books."Having worked as a producer for a ...

  • News

    Benson joins The Agency

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Confetti producer Ian Benson has joined The Agency in a new role dedicated to new and established film and TV directors. The London-based business represents writers for film, television, radio and the theatre. It also represents directors and film and television rights in books."Having worked as a producer for a ...

  • News

    Bradford Animation Festival attracts international names

    2006-11-11T04:00:00Z

    The Bradford Animation Festival (November 15-18), based at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television in the Yorkshire town will include a number of majhor international names .They include Dave Burgess, supervising animator on Over The Hedge. Bafta award-winning film-maker Joanna Quinn and Marc Craste who picked up a ...

  • News

    Welsh film agency launched in Cardiff

    2006-11-11T04:00:00Z

    The Film Agency for Wales will be officially launched in Cardiff tomorrow (Tuesday).The body, established to support the industry in the Principality, will also announce its first co-financing venture for first-time feature director David Howard's Flick.The project has support from the lottery fund of the Arts Council of Wales. The ...

  • News

    Welsh film agency launched in Cardiff

    2006-11-11T04:00:00Z

    The Film Agency for Wales will be officially launched in Cardiff tomorrow (Tueday).The body, established to support the industry in the principality, will also announce its first co-financing venture for first-time feature director David Howard's Flick.The project also has support from the lottery fund of the Arts Council of Wales, ...

  • News

    Sheffield DocFest enjoys record year

    2006-11-10T04:00:00Z

    Sheffield Docfest boasted a huge leap in attendance, up 400 on last year to to almost 1,000 festival delegates.The festival awarded more than $75,000 (£40,000) in pitches and price funds for film and television work.This year's Channel 4 Pitch winner was Haryum Kim, who picked up $57,000 (£30,000) to make ...

  • News

    BT signs VOD deal with Buena Vista

    2006-11-09T12:00:00Z

    UK telecoms giant BT has signed a broadband video-on-demand deal with Buena Vista International Television (BVITV).The deal will include upcoming, current and library movies from BVITV's portfolio under the BT Vision brand. BT Vision customers will also be able to buy a selection of current and upcoming features from ...