Small MPU – Page 1918
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News
Mark Waters to receive AFI's Franklin J Schaffner Alumni Medal
Mean Girls and The Spiderwick Chronicles director Mark Waters will receive the American Film Institute's (AFI) 2008 Franklin J Schaffner Alumni Medal in honour of his 'extraordinary creative talents' on June 12.Waters was a member of the AFI Conservatory's directing class of 1992 and graduated alongside Darren Aronofsky, Doug Ellin ...
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Canadian movie attendance hits 38-year high
Canadians went to the pictures in record numbers in 1998-99 - the biggest years since 1972 - but that hasn't helped exhibitors' profitability, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada, surveying all 692 of the nation's cinemas and drive-ins.Lured by multi-screen theatres with stadium-style seats and expanded common areas ...
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Agreement signed to support German and Irish collaboration
North Rhine-Westphalia's regional film fund Filmstiftung NRW and the Irish Film Board have signed a cooperation agreement to support producers working together on feature films and documentaries.An agreement based on reciprocity was signed in Cologne on Monday afternoon during this year's Medienforum NRW conference by the Irish Film Board's CEO ...
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UK prepares for French invasion
This summer is gearing up to take on a decidedly French feel in the UK.Unifrance, France's film export body, reports that at least 10 French films will have their British debut in the coming weeks supported by a strong presence of French talent.On June 13, Priceless , starring Audrey Tautou ...
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Bruno wins HBO Documentary/Film Independent fellowship
Bruce Dern is among the Fellows and their projects selected by Film Independent for its 6th annual Fast Track film financing initiative.Fast Track connects participants with financiers, production companies and industry professionals during the Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), which takes place from June 19 - 29.Film Independent also announced ...
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Skillset starts new trainee plan for Fund-paying productions
UK training body Skillset has launched a new Film Trainee Scheme.The initiative was announced at a Skillset Connects networking lunch in London.The scheme will let newcomers work on productions shooting in the UK. Trainee positions will be heavily subsidised by Skillset, to help productions get suitable, diverse trainees and to ...
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Reviews
The Incredible Hulk
Dir. Louis Leterrier. 2008. US. 112mins.Two big-budget, high-profile attempts later and it's perfectly clear that Marvel sincerely believes The Incredible Hulk is a viable film franchise. What's not so clear is why.Producer Gale Anne Hurd's second stab at The Incredible Hulk throws all the tricks in the blockbuster book at ...
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European Commission studies VoD changes for 2009
The European Commission is considering the methods it will use to monitor Video on Demand (VoD) content when the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is introduced in 2009.Specifically, it is looking at ways to monitor how European content is promoted by VoD services.Possible criteria could include:financial contributions to the ...
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Reviews
The Rocker
Dir. Peter Cattaneo US . 2008. 102 mins.Sitcom star Rainn Wilson (the US version of The Office) makes a disappointing transition to big-screen headlining with The Rocker, a mostly flat School Of Rock rehash directed by The Full Monty's Peter Cattaneo. The broad Fox Atomic comedy certainly won't do for ...
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Reviews
The Happening
Dir: M Night Shyamalan. US. 2008. 90 mins. The phenomenon that was M Night Shyamalan is further diminished by The Happening, a paranoia-fuelled disaster movie which will leave audiences scratching their heads. Less dramatically convincing than his previous efforts and lacking the heart-thumping momentum or stunning revelations you'd expect, it ...
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Paulo Coelho recruits MySpace users for feature compilation
Author Paulo Coelho is working with MySpace on the creation of his first feature film, The Experimental Witch.The project is inspired by Coelho's most recent book The Witch Of Portobello, and will use the concept of 'mash up' videos. MySpace users will submit original videos and music and then Coelho ...
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Ealing's Cannes deals include Dorian Gray to Alliance Films
Ealing Studios International has reported a number of deals closed during Cannes Market.Oliver Parker's Dorian Gray, which was announced during Cannes, has been sold to Alliance Films for Canada, the UK, Spain, Italy and Scandinavia (releases will be handled by respective subsidiaries Alliance, Momentum and Aurum and partners Eagle and ...
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News
Mandate backs feature of hit online short Jay And Seth...
Mandate Pictures has green-lit a feature based on the action comedy short Jay And Seth Vs The Apocalypse from co-writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.Mandate is in talks with directors and has earmarked a 2009 production start on the adaptation of the short, which starred Rogen and Jay Baruchel as ...
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Greetings From The Shore wins Staten Island Film Festival
Greg Chwerchak's opening night drama Greetings From The Shore won best feature at Staten Island's SINY Film Festival and star Kim Shaw was named best actress as the event came to a close at the weekend.Anthony Tarsitano was named best director for Calling It Quits and star Dennis Boutsakaris took ...
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Briana Evigan signs to star in Sobini's thriller Burning Bright
Step Up 2: The Streets lead Briana Evigan has signed to star in the thriller Burning Bright from Mark Amin's Sobini Films, which has a first-look deal with Lionsgate.Carlos Brooks, whose drama Quid Pro Quo starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga opens this week through Magnolia Pictures, will direct and ...
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News
here! Films acquires domestic rights to Cthulhu, Antarctica
here! Films has acquired North American rights to the occult thriller Cthulhu and worldwide rights to gay-themed Israeli romantic comedy Antarctica. Sister company Regent Releasing will release both titles in the US later this year.Cthulhu is adapted from HP Lovecraft's novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth and re-imagines the story with ...
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Don Cheadle to receive LAFF's Spirit Of Independence Award
Don Cheadle will receive the Los Angeles Film Festival's (LAFF) Spirit Of Independence Award for his 'outstanding work and contributions to the film industry' at the awards ceremony on June 29.The inaugural Spirit Of Independence Award went to George Clooney in 2005 and only Charlize Theron and Clint Eastwood have ...
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News
Sundance Institute names fellows for Documentary Lab in June
Sundance Institute has selected the Documentary Film Fellows representing four projects that will take part in the Documentary Film Edit and Story Laboratory set to run in Utah from June 21-28.The Laboratory offers one intensive week of creative feedback and the chance to work closely with a pool of creative ...
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News
2929 will self-distribute What Just Happened' through Magnolia
Nearly five months after What Just Happened' premiered at Sundance, Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban have announced they will self-distribute the Hollywood satire through Magnolia Pictures on October 3.Magnolia would appear to be a logical and convenient outlet given that the film was co-produced by 2929 Productions, its sister company ...
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Soderbergh to present Corrente's The Prince Of Providence
Steven Soderbergh will present Michael Corrente's upcoming political drama The Prince Of Providence starring Oliver Platt as Buddy Cianci, the colourful former mayor from Rhode Island who became one of the longest serving 'big city' mayors in US history.Adam Goldberg, Ed Burns, Dermot Mulroney and Bradley Cooper are also attached ...