All articles by Screen International correspondents – Page 6

  • News

    Sky strikes deal for Bafta events

    2005-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Sky Movies has agreed a partnership with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts that will allow BSkyB to broadcast a number of BAFTA's exclusive live talent events. The first BAFTA event to be recorded will an evening with Julie Andrews.(November 28) The hour-long interview, to be hosted at ...

  • News

    RCV picks up rights to major AFM titles

    2005-11-25T00:00:00Z

    Dutchdistributor RCV Entertainment has picked up the rights for a number of newtitles at the 2005 American Film Market (AFM).Theyinclude:Next:directed byLee Tamahori with Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore MissPotter,directed by Christ Noonan and starring Renee ZellwegerFracture: directed by Gregory Hoblit,starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling TheTexas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, ...

  • News

    Four films pick up cash prize from Balkan Fund

    2005-11-23T00:00:00Z

    The four projects receiving awards from this year's Balkan Fund, have been announced at the ThessalonikiInternational Film Festival.The $12,000 (10,000 Euros) prizes go to:Conversation with SerafimScreenwriter and director Silviu Purcarete, producer Ozana Oancea (Libra Films, Romania)Asphyxiation Screenwriter and director Asli Ozge, producer Deniz Kunkut>(DKFY, Turkey) Cum ...

  • News

    Passion and preparation keys to indie success, say experts

    2005-11-18T00:00:00Z

    Professionalism, preparation and passion are the key toselling and marketing independentfilms, a Screen International conference was told yesterday.New technologies, new distribution methods and new financechannels all seem to offer new routes to success.But industry experts were united on the need to stayfocussed on the product and the customer at every ...

  • News

    de Hadeln to head Damascus festival jury

    2005-11-16T00:00:00Z

    Moritz de Hadeln, artistic director of this year's FestivalInternational de Film deMontreal (FIFM), hasbeen named president of the international jury of the Damascus International Film Festival (November 20-27).Acceptingthe offer from the Syrian event, the former head of the Berlin, Venice and Locarno festivals said: "Inthe difficult international present political situation, ...

  • News

    Battle lines drawn for Prix Screen International

    2005-11-15T00:00:00Z

    The European Film Academy has announced 11 nominations for the Prix ScreenInternational for non-European film.The awards, backed byScreen International, reflect the wide geographical spread of this year's top films, taking in every continent.Three of the films - C.R.A.Z.Y., Be With Me and Tsosti - have also been nominated to represent ...

  • News

    Halloween producer killed in Jordanian bombings

    2005-11-11T00:00:00Z

    The producer of the Halloweenfilms, Syrian-born Moustapha Akkad,was confirmed today as one of the victims of the hotel bombings in Jordan.Los Angeles-resident Akkad, who also directed the epic Anthony Quinn-starrers Lion Of The Desert and TheMessage, died this morning from wounds sustained in Wednesday's attack in Amman.His daughter, Rima Akkad ...

  • News

    Cape Town festival to crown glorious year for South Africa

    2005-11-10T04:00:00Z

    A breakthrough year ofextraordinary achievement for South African cinema will culminate in the CapeTown World Film Festival starting tomorrow, and next week's Sithengi film market .This year, South Africapicked up its first Golden Bear with u-Carmen eKhayelitsha and its first Academy Award nomination for Yesterday.The fourth Cape Town festival, will ...

  • News

    International Screenwriters Festival makes debut in 2006

    2005-11-09T04:00:00Z

    The world's first major festival exclusively devotedto the art, craft and business of international scriptwriting is to be inaugurated next Summer.The Screenwriters Festival(June 27-30), backed by Screen International, will be based in the UK town ofCheltenham, which is already home to a leading literary festival.Major names from around theworld have ...

  • News

    Manslaughter gathers more garlands

    2005-11-08T00:00:00Z

    Per Fly's Manslaughter has picked up the top prize at the Nordische Filmtagein Lubeck.The$15,000 NDR Film Prize is awarded for a "feature film of special artisticquality." The third film in Fly's class trilogy also won the Nordic Council Film Prize 2005 last month.Trust Film Sales has struck a number of ...

  • News

    Hong Kong man jailed for film piracy

    2005-11-07T00:00:00Z

    AHong Kong man has become the first person to be jailed for passing on film contentover the controversial BitTorrent (BT) online file-sharingservice.Chan Nai-ming, 38, who used thealias "Big Crook", was sentenced to three months in jail by a Hong Kong magistrate after conviction on three charges of attempting todistribute Hollywood ...

  • News

    European Film Awards announced in Seville

    2005-11-06T21:00:00Z

    The European Film Academy (EFA) announced the nominations for theEuropean Film Awards 2005 at the Seville Film Festival last night.The 1,600 EFA Members will now vote for the winnerswhich will be presented during the Awards Ceremony in Berlin on December 3.The nominations are:EUROPEAN FILM 2005Brothers directed bySusanne Bier (Denmark/UK/Sweden/Norway)For ...

  • News

    Optimum takes UK rights to Tommy Lee Jones debut

    2005-11-06T00:00:00Z

    Optimum Releasing has acquired all UK rights toTommy Lee Jones' directorial debut The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estradafrom EuropaCorp. The western was a critical hit at Cannes whereit won best actor for Tommy Lee Jones and best screenplay for GuillermoArriaga.Screen's review says the drama recalls SamPeckinpah, taking a bittersweet view ...

  • News

    Stockholm promising 160 films in vintage year

    2005-11-06T00:00:00Z

    The 16th StockholmFilm Festival (November 17-27) is boasting 160 films from 40 countries.The festival is the only one in the Nordic region with membership of theFIAPF, and an international jury of film critics from the FIPRESCI.Eighteen films will compete inthe international competition section of the festival. The festival also includessections ...

  • News

    Minghella hails best ever London Film Festival

    2005-11-04T00:00:00Z

    "The best festival ever," was Anthony Minghellas description of the 49th The Times London Film Festival, which closed last night withGeorge Clooney's Good Night, And GoodLuck.Theevent broke all previous records, boasting 161 sold-out performancesin a festival of 180 feature films and 130 shorts.Theend of festival awards went to:The Sutherland Trophy ...

  • News

    Optimimum and Madman join forces on the home front

    2005-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Independentdistributors Optimum Releasing and Madman Entertainment have announced theformation of a home entertainment joint venture.OptimumMadman will distribute titles in the UK and Australian markets. First on the Optimum Madman slate is Bill Melendez' 1979Emmy award-winning animated feature The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Also acquired for both UK and ...

  • News

    City Screen co-founder steps down after 16 years

    2005-11-02T04:00:00Z

    Tony Jonesis leaving the City Screen arthouse chain he co-founded 16 years ago.He wants toconcentrate on developing the Cambridge Film Festival, although he will alsocontinue to programme the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge and to act as afreelance consultant.CityScreen has developed into the UK's largest chain and has been a champion ...

  • News

    Mexican star hits out at Hollywood stereotyping

    2005-11-01T13:06:00Z

    Leading Mexicanactor Gael Garcia Bernal has attacked what he says is Hollywood stereotyping of Latin America.Speaking atThe Times London Film Festival in London, the star of The Motorcycle Diaries, said there seemed to be two roles forHispanic people: "the bad guy" and "the good Latino from the slums."The26-year-old, who came ...

  • News

    Film Council increases UK sales support at AFM

    2005-11-01T06:00:00Z

    The UKFilm Council US is doubling its support for start-up and smaller independentsales companies at this year's AFM.The movewill allow many companies to exhibit there for the first time and others tocontinue their push to international buyers.Underthe single banner of the UKFCUS export office: Carnaby International, CentreFilm Sales, Cross Day ...

  • News

    Branagh ready to shoot Mozart magic

    2005-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Kenneth Branaghbegins principal photography on his $27m version of Mozart's The Magic Flute on23 January at Shepperton Studios.For the first time for a British film, theproduction will occupy six of the major soundstages at the studio. The film features a newly-adapted libretto byStephen Fry with musical director James Conlon conducting ...