Small MPU – Page 1233
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Bingham Ray lined up to head United Artists
After weeks of speculation, it seems certain that indie veteran Bingham Ray is to head United Artists (UA), the specialised arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Ray, who is expected to remain based in New York City, is currently running the film production arm of New York commercial and video production company ...
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Shaolin Soccer opens Sydney Asian festival
Shaolin Soccer opens this month's Sydney Asia Pacific Film Festival, kicking off a week of Asian fare.Stephen Chow and Lik-Chi Lee's Hong Kong title follows a down-at-heel soccer star who tries to get a Shaolin monk apprentice with a gift for soccer to play in the national football finals.The festival, ...
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Taylor to host new amFAR benefit at Venice
Cinema legend Elizabeth Taylor will once again be hosting the Cinema AIDS Venice gala dinner during the Venice film festival later this month.The charity events, which include auctions of luxury items in support of the American Foundation For AIDS Research (amFAR), have been a regular feature of film festivals during ...
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Berlusconi daughter to head Italy's Medusa
Marina Berlusconi, daughter of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, has been appointed president of Finvinvest film arm Medusa Film. The move at Italy's leading film production and distribution outfit, follows the death of Carlo Bernasconi last month."Marina Berlusconi's appointment to the head of the company is a strong sign of ...
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TF1 USA hires Brimm to fulfil co-production drive
Tracy Brimm, who was an agent in the international department at ICM, has joined European broadcaster TF1 as president of co-productions and acquisitions at TF1 USA, a division of TF1 International.Run by Jean Louis Capra and Didier Sapaut, TF1 International is the foreign sales company of TF1 which has financed ...
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Shooting Gallery owner itemus files for bankruptcy
After weeks teetering on the brink of failure, Itemus inc. filed for bankruptcy yesterday. The Toronto-based internet incubator was brought down by the obligations of its Shooting Gallery subsidiary, which it purchased in April 2001. In a letter to shareholders posted on the company's website yesterday, itemus chairman Jim Tobin ...
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Dutch dozen to feature at Netherlands project mart
Twelve Dutch projects are to be showcased at the Netherlands Production Platform, the high profile production sidebar of the Dutch Film Festival (19-28 Sept). Now in its third year, the platform presents Dutch feature projects to possible co-production partners, financiers and sales agents and has a good track record of ...
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Local blockbuster forecast to boost Thai BO take
A mixture of home grown hits and Hollywood imports are expected to give a huge boost to revenues at the Thai box office this year.The industry is expected to generate revenues of $66m (Bt3btn) this year, up from $50m (Bt2.3bn) in 2000.At least one third of the Thai 2001 box ...
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US Hispanic entertainment set to fly with Condor
Condor Media, a new home video and DVD distribution company of Spanish-language product in the US, is poised to launch this summer. Founded by Argentine-born film veteran Peter Marai, Condor Media will kick off in later this month with two films from Spain: Vicente Aranda's erotic thriller Jealousy (Celos) ...
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Shrek passes $100m mark in international run
DreamWorks SKG's animated blockbuster Shrek is repeating its storming North American performance in the international markets. The film, which has opened at number one in the majority of the territories that have received it, has now passed the $100m international box office mark.UIP, which distributes Shrek in most international territories, ...
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China threatens red card for Chow's Soccer hit
Shaolin Soccer, the most popular local film of the year in Hong Kong, is in danger of being banished from China and its hugely popular actor-director Stephen Chow fined.The threat follows a row about the film's content and release permits. Zhou Jiangdong, a department head within the powerful State Administration ...
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Cacavas named Columbia vp, world dist'n analysis
John Cacavas has been promoted to vice president, worldwide distribution analysis, for Columbia Pictures. He reports to Paul Smith, executive vice president, worldwide marketing and distribution, for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.He will focus on analysing the worldwide motion picture industry, in particular how the company's different film genres perform ...
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Dimension re-releases Spy Kids with new scene
Dimensions Films' family hit Spy Kids will be re-released in North America next Wednesday (Aug 8) with an additional three-minute underwater special effects scene cut from the original which opened on March 30 and went on to gross over $100m."It was one of my favourite scenes, but it was never ...
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Kinowelt parts company with CFO Unzeitig
Eduard Unzeitig, CFO of debt-ridden Kinowelt Medien Group, has left the company, following news that his contract has been terminated "jointly and with immediate effect".Only less than two weeks ago Alexander van Duelmen had quit his post as head of Kinowelt International "by mutual agreement and with immediate effect".In an ...
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Sequel scares up business
Scary Movie 2, the spoof sequel to last year's Scary Movie, started its international roll-out this week taking the top spot in France. First week admissions for the comedy, which is once again directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans and written by his siblings Shawn and Marlon who also star, attracted ...
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Momentum takes four titles from Intermedia
In their first deal together, Momentum Pictures has bought four titles from Intermedia, headlined by the tentatively-titled Plague Season, Ron Shelton's story of LA police in the run up to the Rodney King riots.The acquisitive Momentum also bought all UK rights to Wisegirls, starring Mariah Carey and Mira Sorvino, dark ...
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Thai films get international sales boost from GMT
Bangkok start-up sales company, GMT Entertainment, has signed up to handle international rights for Suriyothai, the royal epic with a production budget in excess of $20m making it by far the most expensive Thai film ever made.The creation of a much-needed sales company in Thailand will be a shot in ...
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Barrandov and Boyana studios attracting investors
US producer David Kappes (Dune, Anne Frank) is said to be heading a group of American producers, called Trilateral Entertainment, interested in purchasing the Czech Republic's Barrandov Studios, according to local sources.Current Barrandov owner Moravia Steel, which is selling the studio complex on the outskirts of Prague to focus on ...
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UK's FilmFour appoints McAleese
FilmFour has appointed Peter McAleese as head of physical production.The producer of Twin Town and co-producer of Spice World replaces Caroline Hewitt, who returns to operate as an independent producer. McAleese's credits also include line producer on Bridget Jones's Diary and co-producer on Gillies MacKinnon's The Escapist. He worked as ...
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Rushes Soho Shorts announces winners
Rushes Postproduction has announced the following winning films at the Third Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2001; The Artsworld Short Film Award:Winner: Talk - Dir. Matthew Parkhill, Winkle Films Runners up: Yoorinal - Dir. Mark Nunneley, RSA Sweet - Dir. James Pilkington, Velocity FilmsDiscreet Newcomer Award:Winner: The Cat With Hands - ...