All articles by Wendy Mitchell – Page 101
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MGM splits with Sony for home video business
Aspart of ongoing business changes, MGM is severing some of itsties with Sony. MGM will no longer split itshome entertainment business between Sony Pictures Entertainment and 20th CenturyFox and will instead only work with Fox. The move is especially notable because Sony led the consortium that acquired MGM in 2005.It'snot ...
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Universal plans new VeggieTales film
UniversalPictures is planning an early 2008 worldwide launch for the next VeggieTales film. CG animated feature The Pirates Who Don'tDo Anything - A VeggieTales Movie is being developedwith family media company Big Idea and the franchise's creative team of Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. Nawrocki will direct based on a ...
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Miramax acquires Waititi's Eagle vs. Shark
MiramaxFilms has acquired the North American rights to comedy Eagle vs. Shark, the debut feature from TaikaWaititi, previously nominated for an Oscar for his shortTwo Cars One Night.Eagle vs. Shark stars New Zealand actors LorenHorsley and Jemaine Clement in the story of two misfitssearching for acceptance. It was shot on ...
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Brian Robertson named chair of FACT
The Federation Again Copyright Theft (FACT) in the UK has appointed Brian Robertson as its chairman, effective immediately.He replaces Marek Antoniak of Sony Pictures, who recently resigned from the post after serving for 11 years. Robertson has held senior UK and European finance positions at Sony Pictures Entertainment and is ...
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IMG to buy UK production company Tiger Aspect
IMG Media has struck a deal to acquire London-based production company TigerAspect Group, including its subsidiaries Tigress, US-based TTP and film division TigerAspect Pictures. Termsof the deal weren't released, but IMG Media will finance theacquisition with capital from its US-based parent company IMG. Thisdeal follows IMG unit TWI's recent acquisition ...
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Outfest to open with Puccini For Beginners
Outfest 2006, which runs in nine venues in Los Angeles from July 6-17, will screen 207 shortsand features from 25 countries during its 24th event. The opening nightgala film is Puccini ForBeginners and the Spanish musical 20Centimeters (20 Centimetros) will close thefestival. The awards nightfilm is Allan Brocka's Boy Culture. ...
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Santa Barbara festival starts Kirk Douglas award
TheSanta Barbara International Film Festival has announced plans to inaugurate itsnew Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film with a presentation to Douglasthis summer.Thefestival will present Douglaswith the new award at a black-tie gala on July 30. The award is expected to begiven to other honourees in subsequent years. Theaward ...
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Sullivan plans modern take on The Magic Flute
FollowingKenneth Branagh's UK adaptation of The Magic Flute, which is inpost-production now, Canadian producers Sullivan Entertainment are planningtheir own feature based on the classic opera. Thisversion is set during Mozart's 250th birthday celebrations in contemporary Salzburg, where a young singer is castin the lead of a production of The MagicFlute ...
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Palm Pictures acquires Cannes hit Ten Canoes
PalmPictures has acquired the North American rights to Rolf de Heer'sTen Canoes. Thefilm, co-directed by Peter Djigirr, won the specialjury prize after premiering in Un Certain Regard in Cannes. Ten Canoes, billed as the first moviein the Aboriginal language, was made in collaboration with the People of Ramingining. Richard Birrinbirrin,David ...
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Soda acquires Bier's After The Wedding
UK distributor Soda Pictures has acquired three new titles from Cannes2006: Susanne Bier's After TheWedding, Brice Cauvin's Hotel Harabati,and Kelly Reichardt's Old Joy (Kelly Reichardt). Trust Film sold After The Wedding, Bier's follow-up to Brothers, which Soda released in 2005. Films Distribution sold Hotel Harabati,which premiered at the Berlinale.US-based Forward ...
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Artificial Eye nabs four more from Cannes
UK distributor Artificial Eye has announced a number of acquisitions from Cannes. The company has the UK rights to Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Climates (Iklimler) and Paulo Sorrentino'sThe Friend OfThe Family (L'Amico Di Famiglia), which both played in competition. Climateswon the FIPRESCI prize. As announced before Cannes, Artificial Eye is also ...
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Artificial Eye nabs four more from Cannes
UK distributor Artificial Eye has announced a number of acquisitions from Cannes. The company has the UK rights to Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Climates (Iklimler) and Paulo Sorrentino'sThe Friend OfThe Family (L'Amico Di Famiglia), which both played in competition. Climateswon the FIPRESCI prize. As announced before Cannes, Artificial Eye is also ...
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Tartan takes US rights to Election and Election 2
TartanUSA has acquired all US rights to Jonnie To's Election and Election 2from Celluloid Dreams. Bothfilms played in official selection in Cannes, the first in 2005 andthe sequel this year. Thedeal was brokered by Charlotte Mickie for CelluloidDreams and Tartan USA acquisitions consultant Marie-Therese Guirgis.Boththrillers are set in the underworld ...
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Chapman to head UK Film Council's LA office
The UK Film Council has appointed Claire Chapman as executivedirector of the UKFC's Los Angeles office.She takes over for Susan Finlayson-Sitch, who is leaving the post after six years to return tothe UK.Chapman is a producer whohad recently served as head of production and development for Scottish Screen,working on films ...
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Tartan gets US rights to The Page Turner
Tartan USA has acquired allUS rights to The Page Turner (La Tourneuse de Pages) from Films Distribution. The film, which premiered inUn Certain Regard, is a psychological thriller, written and directed by DenisDercourt and starring Catherine Frot and The Child star Deborah Francois.Didar Domehri of FilmsDistribution negotiated the deal ...
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Dogwoof gets UK rights to Grbavica
UK distributor DogwoofPictures has taken all UK rights to Berlinale Golden Bear winner Grbavica. Jasmila Zbanic'sSarajevo-set drama is a co-production from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, andGermany.The deal was struck withsales company Match Factory.'The film has animportant political and social angle, but it's also a moving story about amother and daughter,' ...
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Thessaloniki festival to welcome Wenders and Salles
Wim Wenders and Walter Salles will be attending the47th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which will run November 17-26.This year's festival will include a Wim Wendersretrospective, with Wenders in attendance for screenings and also to conduct amasterclass. His wife Donata Wenders will also exhibit photos she has taken ofhis films.Another special ...
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Momentum strikes deals for P.S and Spring Break
Momentum has acquired the UK rights to P.S. I LoveYou from Summit Entertainment and the UK and Spanish rights to Spring Break In Bosnia from QED.Richard LaGravanese will direct the big-screenadaptation of the P.S. I Love You by Irish author Cecelia Ahern. Hilary Swank will star. ForrestGump's Wendy Finerman will ...
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New UK festival Britdoc adds pitching forum
Nokia has come on board as a principal sponsor ofBritdoc, the UK's new international documentary festival. The event isscheduled for July 26-28 in Oxford.The festival has announced a documentary featurepitching forum, presented by Channel 4 offshoot More4, for UK film-makers topitch a panel of commissioners and funders. The panel will ...
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Hunchback planned as $10m UK-Poland co-production
Producers Nik Goldman and Max Ryan are setting up a$10m UK-Poland co-production for a new adaptation of The Hunchback of NotreDame.The project, entitled Hunchback,will star Ryan, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Said Taghmaoui, StevenBerkoff and Jack Ryan. Battlefield Earth's Roger Christianwill direct.The 10-week shoot will take place this summer inKrakow and ...