Small MPU – Page 3579

  • News

    Exhibitor Kinepolis Group's ticket sales fell 8% in 2005

    2006-01-10T16:45:00Z

    Pan-Europeanexhibitor Kinepolis Group's ticket sales fell 8% in2005 according to latest figures released by the company. Kinepolisticket sales finished at 22.6 million compared to 24.5 million in 2004. Astrong end of year run came as a great boost but was not enough to counter the12% dip recorded at the end ...

  • News

    Beyond Films gets on board for Dragnet and Almost Adult

    2006-01-11T04:00:00Z

    Sales company Beyond Filmshas acquired the rights to two films currently shooting, Steve Hudson's Dragnet and YousefAli Khan's Almost Adult.Dragnet stars Robert Carlyle, Gary Lewis, and Martin Compston in the story of a young fisherman who decides tosave the family business by trafficking in illegal immigrants. Dragnetstarted shooting Monday in ...

  • News

    The Chronicles of Narnia is hit for Argentina

    2006-01-11T04:00:00Z

    TheChronicles of Narnia: TheLion, the Witch and the Wardrobe scored the best opening ever in Argentina with 460.489 admissions from 173 screensin its first four-day weekend (Jan 5-8). Thefantasy epic beat previous record set by The Matrix Reloaded with450.839 spectators from 115 theatres in May 2003, while Shrek2 holds the ...

  • News

    Narnia breaks all records in Argentina

    2006-01-11T04:00:00Z

    TheChronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe scored the best opening ever in Argentina with 460.489 admissions from173 screens in its first four-day weekend (Jan 5-8). The fantasy epic beat previous record set by The Matrix Reloaded with 450.839spectators from 115 theatres in May 2003, while Shrek ...

  • News

    Sky starts movie download service with 200 titles

    2006-01-10T00:00:00Z

    On the heels of LoveFilm's launch of a 500-title library of film downloads in the UK, satellite TV company Sky is also offering digital downloads of films to customers' computers. The Sky by broadband service is now being offered to Sky's digital TV subscribers in the UK and Ireland. More ...

  • News

    Stiffs begins shooting with backing from Massachusetts tax incentive

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Filming is underway on Boston-based Mavex Productions' comedy Stiffs, the first feature to take advantage ofthe Massachusetts Production Tax Incentive legislation that came into effect onJan 1.The project, which stars Danny Aiello as an Italian-Americanhearse driver who gets involved in a plot to keep a funeral home afloat, isscheduled to ...

  • News

    Biddle leaves Summit for senior vp production role at Rogue

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Adrienne Biddle has left Summit Entertainment and joined RoguePictures in the newly created position of senior vice president of production.Biddle will be based in the company's West Coast offices andreports directly to Rogue production chief Andrew Rona.The company's upcoming releases include Dave Chappelle's BlockParty directed by MichelGondry, Alex Aja's The ...

  • News

    Escandell gets vp publicity stripes at Sony International

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Cathy Escandell has been promoted to vice president of publicity,acquisitions and local productions at Sony Pictures Releasing International(SPRI).Escandell, who reports directly to senior vice president ofmarketing, acquisitions and local productions Sal Ladestro, formerly served asa senior publicist with the division.In her new role she will plan and execute all internationalpublicity ...

  • News

    Heartlift opens Miami Film Festival on Mar 3

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    The world premiere of Eliseo Subiela's Heartlift (Lifting De Corazon) will open the 23rd Annual MiamiInternational Film Festival, which closes with the East Coast premiere ofNicole Holofcener's Sundance opener Friends With Money.All in all 92 features including 10 world premieres will screen atthe event, which runs from Mar 3-12 and ...

  • News

    Christal to release controversial Canadian serial killer film

    2005-01-11T04:00:00Z

    Karla, the US-produced true-life account of Canadianserial killer Karla Homolka, has secured a theatrical release in Canada viaMontreal-based Christal Films. The company plans open the film on 100 screensnationwide on January 20.Directed by Joel Bender andproduced by Michael Sellers of LA-based Quantum Entertainment, the film starsLaura Prepon as Homolka and ...

  • News

    Wild Bunch signs financing, distribution deal with Fidelite

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    French sales and financingoutfit Wild Bunch has added another feather to its cap in signing a financingand distribution deal with France's Fidelite Productions.Wild Bunch, which tookover Pan Europeenne Distribution in 2004 and which recently signed a $145mjoint-venture dedicated to acquiring and co-producing features via anin-the-works pan-European distribution network, will now ...

  • News

    Marvel promotes three as company moves into new phase

    2006-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Marvel Studios has promoted three executives to key positions asthe company moves into self-financed production following last year's financingdeal with Merrill Lynch.Kevin Feige has been promoted to president of production and willcollaborate with company chairman and chief executive officer Avi Aradoverseeing all film and television productions. He previously served asexecutive ...

  • News

    Moviemax acquires distribution rights to US films

    2006-01-11T10:52:00Z

    Italiandistributor Moviemax, fresh from a hefty cash boost by new majority shareholderMondo Home Entertainment, has acquired Italian distribution rights to five USfilms, including Sundance premieres LuckyNumber Slevin and Alpha Dog.Lucky Number Slevin, which is directed by Paul McGuigan, is a dramaabout a man who finds himself in the middle of ...

  • News

    The Match Factory picks up films from Wanda Vision

    2006-01-11T11:35:00Z

    New international sales outfit The Match Factory has picked up international rights to two new titles from Spain's Wanda Vision. The Match Factory, set up by former Bavaria Films International managing director MichaelWeber has picked up Claudia Llosa's Sundance and Rotterdam entry Madeinusa and Gerardo Olivares' The Great Match.Peruvian-set Madeinusa ...

  • News

    Media Luna launches joint venture sales company

    2000-06-06T12:00:00Z

    Cologne-based sales agent Media Luna International Film Sales has joined forces with four German production houses to launch an expanded theatrical sales outfit Media Luna Entertainment (MLE).This week's Media Forum NRW in Cologne provided the backdrop for the launch of the new company which will be managed by Ida Martins, ...

  • News

    LDM Productions to commence shooting project 8

    2006-01-11T12:30:00Z

    Paris-based production house LDMProductions has announced the commencement of shooting on a new projectentitled 8.A series of short films by renowneddirectors, the project will highlight the fight against poverty and otherhumanitarian issues facing the world today.On a total budget of $4.2m (3.5m Euros)directors such as Robert Altman, Jodie Foster, GasparNoe, ...

  • News

    Aardman names Stephen Moore COO and features head

    2006-01-11T14:50:00Z

    Stephen Moore has joined UK-based animation company Aardmanas head of features and chief operating officer, starting immediately.Moore comes onboard the Aardman team after relocating back to the UKafter eight years in Los Angeles aspresident of international for Twentieth Century Fox. He oversaw both thetheatrical and home entertainment divisions at Fox."Icouldn't ...

  • News

    UK Film Council offers P&A support to new releases

    2006-01-11T16:37:00Z

    The UK Film Council has announced some ofthe latest recipients of funding from its Print and Advertising Fund. Among January's theatrical releases in theUK, the P&A fund is providing Redbus with $351,920(£200,000) for its release of Michael Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story, Icon $93,258 (£53,000)for Woody Allen's Match Point, ...

  • News

    Netherlands' box-office takings fall by 12.7%

    2006-01-12T04:00:00Z

    The Netherlands may haveseen year-on-year box office fall in line with much of Europe but local titlessaw an admissions gain. The territory as a wholewitnessed box office fall 12.7% from $187.1m (Euro 154.1m) in 20004 to $163.4m(Euro 134.5m) in 2005. Admissions slipped 11.2% from 23 million to 20.5million. The year ...

  • Reviews

    Day Watch (Dnevnoy Dozor)

    2006-01-12T04:00:00Z

    Dir: Timur Bekmambetov. Russ. 2006. 135mins.A solid piece of escapist entertainment, Day Watch, the sequel to Night Watch, again demonstrates howRussia is capable of making special effects-laden fare on a par with Hollywoodproductions.While its main audienceis likely to be fans of the first film, returns at home especially will behelped ...