Small MPU – Page 729

  • News

    Fortissimo serves up Waiter to France...

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Fortissimo Films has sold Waiter, the company's fourth venturewith Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam, to France's BAC and Israel's United King. The Dutch/HK-based companyhas also closed a slew of sales on John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus which has gone to BIM (Italy), Central Partnership (Russia), Oro (Norway), Ster Kinekor (South Africa), ...

  • News

    Mandarin closes Gate on Cannes deals

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Hong Kong's Mandarin Films has sold Wilson Yip's Dragon Tiger Gate, one of the hotChinese-language titles in the market, to Germany's Splendid Film and Spain's Tot Media. The martial arts actionthriller, starring Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue, was sold earlier inthe market to Japan's Gaga and a raft ...

  • News

    UK Post starts new audio post-production awards

    2006-05-24T00:00:00Z

    UK Post has startedplanning the inaugural Conch Sound Awards. The awards will honour those whowork in audio post-production in film, TV and commercials.The first ceremony will beheld September 21 at the Radisson Edwardian Mayfair's cinema in London.Industry group UK post hasnomination applications available online.After initial nominations, industry experts will judge ...

  • News

    Quinceanera, Champions bookend Newport festival

    2006-05-24T00:00:00Z

    Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's drama Quinceanera and David Wike'scomedy Champions bookend the 9th Annual Newport International FilmFestival, which runs from Jun 6-11.This year's instalment features panel discussions, a New England spotlight, anda comedy improv night, among other events.For a full line-up of events visit the official website at www.newportfilmfestival.com.

  • News

    StudioCanal takes a seat at Feng's Banquet

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Beijing-based Huayi Brothershas sold Feng Xiaogang's period drama TheBanquet to France's StudioCanal.The period drama, starringZhang Ziyi, has also gone to Portugal (Eco Filmes), Source Investment (Benelux, Scandinavia), Femeway (Greece, Cyprus), Alexandra (Bulgaria), Shapira Films (Israel), Atasagun Films (Turkey) and Korean Screen (Korea). Momentum Pictures has rights for the UK and ...

  • News

    Emperor closes raft of sales on Rob-B-Hood

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Emperor Motion Pictures hassold action comedy Rob-B-Hood,starring Jackie Chan and directed by Benny Chan, to Italy's Minerva, Germany'sSplendid and Korea's ShowEast. The Hong Kong-based companyhas also sold all Eastern Europe territories on thefilm to Central Partnership and SPI. Produced by Chan's JCEMovies and Beijing-based Huayi Brothers, the $17m film is ...

  • News

    Sundream sells package to Sahamongkol

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Hong Kong producer-distributor Sundream Motion Pictures has solda package of three titles - Battle OfWits, 49 Days and Eye In The Sky - to Thailand's Sahamongkol Films. Sundream, which is attendingCannes for the first time this year, also sold 49 Days and Eye In The Sky to Brazil's China Video ...

  • Reviews

    Me, Myself And Irene

    2000-06-21T13:23:00Z

    Dirs: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly. US. 2000. 117 mins.Prod co: Conundrum Entertainment, 20th Century Fox. Worldwide dist: 20th Century Fox. Exec prods: Charles B Wessler, Tom Schulman. Prods: Bradley Thomas, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly. Scr: Farrelly, Farrelly & Mike Cerrone. DoP: Mark Irwin. Prod des: Sidney J Bartholomew. Ed: Christopher ...

  • News

    Kadokawa sets up $18m animation fund

    2006-05-24T00:00:00Z

    Japan's Kadokawa Shoten Publishing has established a $17.8m (Y2bn) animationfund which will underwrite 35 film and TV animation productions over the nextfive years.In addition to Kadokawa, theDevelopment Bank of Japan (DBJ) and other banking facilities such as ShinGinkoTokyo also contributed to the fund through a recently announced DBJ initiativeto stimulate ...

  • News

    X-Men: The Last Stand into battle with global launch

    2006-05-25T00:00:00Z

    X-Men: The Last Standmuscles its way into 95 territories this weekend, giving the internationalmarketplace its second ultra-wide day-and-date release in quick succession. TheFox International action sequel is set to open with a total of 8,500 prints playingon around 10,000 screens, with only Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China notincluded in ...

  • News

    Lionsgate swoops on Wayne Beach's thriller Slow Burn

    2006-05-25T00:00:00Z

    Lionsgate has picked up North American and UK rights form GreeneStreetFilms International to the thriller Slow Burn starring Mekhi Phifer, Ray Liottaand Chiwetel Ejiofor.Wayne Beach directed the multi-layered story of a district attorney who has onenight to salvage his reputation and solve a murder. Lionsgate plans an Augustrelease in the ...

  • News

    MIrren, Fishburne to be among CineVegas honorees

    2006-05-25T00:00:00Z

    Laurence Fishburne, Helen Mirren, and Christina Ricci are amonghonourees at the upcoming 2006 CineVegas Film Festival.Ray director Taylor Hackford is also in line for an honorary award, and SylvesterStallone will be presented with a special award.Organisers at the event, scheduled to run from Jun 9-17, have arranged a packedschedule that ...

  • News

    Chiesa books Japan sale for Rosso Come Il Fuoco

    2006-05-26T04:00:00Z

    Adriana Chiesa Enterprises has sold Rosso Come IlFuoco to Japan's Sine Qua Non.Directed by Cristiano Bortone, the film is inspired bythe true story of Mirco Mencacci, a blind sound editor who was sent to aschool for blind children in the 1970s, where he discovered a passion forcinema.The picture was written ...

  • News

    Congorama gone to UGC for France

    2006-05-26T04:00:00Z

    Philippe Falardeau's Congorama,the closing film at the Directors Fortnight, has been sold to UGC for France.The deal was negotiated by French co-producer EricTavitian and producer Luc Dery.Congorama, onLondon-based The Works' Cannes slate, is a Canada/Belgium/France co-production.Starring Olivier Gourmet (best known for his work withthe Dardennes), Congorama is the story of ...

  • News

    Elena Anaya joins cast of The Floating World

    2006-05-26T04:00:00Z

    Goya nominee Elena Anaya hasjoined Wintertime Films and Walker Films' Australian Outback-set drama TheFloating World.The Spanish actress willstar as a grieving widow who embarks upon ajourney of self-discovery andlearns disturbing truths about her past.Ben Mendelsohn and VinceColosimo round out the key cast.John Winter wrote anddirected and is serving as producer ...

  • Reviews

    Marie Antoinette

    2006-05-25T00:00:00Z

    Dir/scr: Sofia Coppola. US. 2006. 123 minsIt's history but not as we know it in Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola's frivolous, fun-filled attempt to make 18th century Versailles accessible to 21st century audiences.Her version of Marie Antoinette is more Paris Hilton than Paris, France as we meet a shallow young woman ...

  • News

    Fortissimo opens New York bureau

    2006-05-25T04:00:00Z

    Salesagency Fortissimo is to open a New York office. Thebureau will be led by Hong Kong-based executive Winnie Lau, who has beenpromoted to Senior Vice President, Sales & Acquisitions.Shewill move from Hong Kong to New York this summer for the launch of the office beforethe Toronto Film Festival.Theannouncement was made ...

  • Reviews

    Drama/Mex

    2006-05-25T16:00:00Z

    Dir/Scr: Gerardo Naranjo. Mexico 2006. 105 mins.A loose, choral drama that plays out over one hot night in Acapulco, Drama/Mex traces its line of influence back through Amores Perros and Gus Van Sant to early Truffaut.Shot in just three weeks, featuring mostly non-professional actors, this Cannes Critics' Week entry is ...

  • Reviews

    Cosy Dens wins audience vote at Sydney fest

    2000-06-21T13:35:00Z

    Czech director Jan Hrebejk's black comedy Cosy Dens won the popularity vote among audiences at the Sydney Film Festival's traditional home, The State Theatre, while patrons of the new Dendy Opera Quays cinema voted for Dutch family film Little Crumb, directed by Maria Peters.The other favourites at The State were, ...

  • News

    Focus International sells out on Cannes slate

    2006-05-26T04:00:00Z

    Focus Features International has reported its most successful Cannes ever, preselling "pretty much the entire slate" according to president Alison Thompson here yesterday. Thompson said thatthe company had closed 110 deals on its new titles, demonstrating, she said, thatthe company continues to sell films contrary to market speculation that Focustitles ...