All articles by Wendy Mitchell – Page 8

  • Features

    United Kingdom - There will be blood

    2008-09-05T00:00:00Z

    It is mid-June in London, and James Corden is sweating in a yellow raincoat as he runs through a foggy forest, carrying a condom full of holy water. Director Phil Claydon calls out his instructions: "Vampire fighting formation, please!"This is the set of Lesbian Vampire Killers. "The title tells you ...

  • News

    Bettany, Connelly take voyage with Darwin film Creation

    2008-09-04T22:58:44Z

    Husband and wife actors Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly will play Charles Darwin and his wife Emma Darwin in the upcoming feature Creation for Oscar-winning UK producer Jeremy Thomas.Jon Amiel will direct, and the cast will also feature Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch.The film is not described as ...

  • News

    Insurer Fireman's Fund opens new London office

    2008-09-04T21:29:00Z

    Feature film insurance company Fireman's Fund is expanding by opening a London office. The office will offer film underwriting to European production companies.Ian Mercer, an insurance executive with 20 years of experience in the UK and US, will head the new office, located on Leadenhall Street.Fireman's Fund will work with ...

  • News

    Zurich Film Festival to honour Costa-Gavras

    2008-09-04T21:16:00Z

    The Zurich Film Festival will presents it Golden Eye Award to film-maker Constantin Costa-Gavras in recognition of his career as a director, writer and producer.ZFF director Karl Spoerri announce the tribute. Paris-based, Greek-born Costa-Gavras will attend the award ceremony on Oct 4 and the festival will also host a retrospective ...

  • News

    UK leads the pack for European Film Awards shortlist

    2008-09-04T20:37:00Z

    The European Film Academy has announced the 44 titles on this year's selection list for the European Film Awards. Nominations, after votes from 1,800 members, will be announced Nov 8 at the Seville European Film Festival and the 21st EFAs will be presented Dec 6 in Copenhagen.The list represents 27 ...

  • News

    Metrodome takes on Caine, Moore thriller Flawless

    2008-09-04T20:30:00Z

    Metrodome Distribution has acquired full UK rights to Michael Radford's Flawless, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. The deal was negotiated by Stephen Margolis of Future Films andMark WilliamsatPierce/Williams Entertainment, and for Metrodome by CEO Peter Urie, General Manager Distribution Sara Frain and Business Affairs Manager Kate Edwards.Metrodome plans a ...

  • News

    Jordan enters Oscars for first time with Captain Abu Raed

    2008-09-04T20:30:00Z

    The list of submissions for the Foreign Language Oscar keeps growing as Jordan officially submits Captain Abu Raed by Amin Matalqa.Jordan's independent submission committee selected the festival hit, which marks Jordan's first entry for the Oscars.H.E. Mr. Munir Nassar, chairman of the Oscar Submission Committee for Jordan, said: 'These are ...

  • News

    EFP's Film Sales Support promotes 42 European films in Toronto

    2008-09-04T05:59:00Z

    European Film Promotion is working with the Toronto International Film Festival for the 12th year.The MEDIA-backed Film Sales Support initiative is now in its fourth year supporting European sales agents and producers with films in Toronto's official market.This year, Toronto's programme includes about 120 European films -- of which 42 ...

  • News

    London Film Festival to close with Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire

    2008-09-04T00:30:00Z

    The Times BFI London Film Festival will close its 52ndedition with the European premiere of London-based director Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.The closing night gala film, which Boyle shot in India, is about an 18-year-old orphan in Mumbai who is suspected of cheating on a game show. The cast features Dev ...

  • News

    Vadim Perelman to direct MGM's relaunch of Poltergeist

    2008-09-03T22:38:00Z

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has signed Vadim Perelman to direct its forthcoming relaunch of the Poltergeist franchise.Perelman previously directed House Of Sand And Fog and The Life Before Her Eyes and is currently working on AMC drama pilot Ice.Cale Boyter, Executive Vice President, Production and Luke Ryan, Vice President, Production, are overseeing ...

  • News

    Arthouse strikes multi-territory deal for Rem Koolhaas documentary

    2008-09-03T20:27:00Z

    New York-based distributor Arthouse Films has acquired all English-speaking territories and French rights to documentary Rem Koolhaas - A Kind Of Architect.Markus Heidingsfelder and Min Tesch direct the feature-length film about the famed architect.The deal was negotiated by David Koh and Lilly Bright on behalf of Arthouse Films and Curiously ...

  • News

    Raindance to open with Choke, close with Hush

    2008-09-03T19:04:00Z

    The 16thRaindance Film Festival (Oct 1-12) in London will kick off with Clark Gregg's Choke starring Sam Rockwell and will close with the world premiere of Mark Tonderai's directorial debut, Warp X horror film Hush. Choke, adapted from Chuck Palahniuk's novel, also stars Anjelica Huston (set to attend the ...

  • News

    Stockholm festival to close with Luhrmann's Australia

    2008-09-03T18:07:00Z

    Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 20-30) has announced that Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia will close its 19thfestival.The romantic drama stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in the WWII-era story of an English artistocrat who inherits a cattle farm in northern Australia. The Stockholm festival will screen more than 170 ...

  • News

    Warp X, Birds Eye View team for women's comedy features

    2008-09-03T17:59:00Z

    Warp X and Birds Eye View are working together on a new feature film development initiative, Last Laugh: Women Create Comedy.The programme will champion female comedy talent working in the UK and bring female-led comedy features to the big screen.Skillset is supporting the scheme through its Skillset Film Skills ...

  • News

    New Wave takes UK rights to Denis' 35 Shot Of Rum

    2008-09-03T17:49:00Z

    New UK distributor New Wave Films has acquired Claire Denis' 35 Shots Of Rum (35 Rhums).The deal was struck with sales company Elle Driver.The film is in competition in Venice and will also screen here in Toronto.Bruno Pesery produced for Soudaine Compagnie.Denis wrote the screenplay with Jean-Pol Fargeau.Alex Descas, Mati ...

  • News

    Metrodome, Rialto team for McKellan's King Lear

    2008-09-03T17:06:00Z

    Metrodome Distribution has taken UK, Ireland and Australia/New Zealand rights to Trevor Nunn and Chris Hunt's new adaptation of King Lear, starring Ian McKellen.The stage-to-screen Royal Shakespeare Company production was recorded in high definition at Pinewood Studios.The deal was negotiated between Metrodome CEO Peter Urie, general manager distribution Sara Frain ...

  • News

    Moore leaves Aardman for Abbey Home Media

    2008-09-01T16:50:00Z

    Stephen Moore is departing Aardman Animations to become a partner and shareholder of children's programming company Abbey Home Media.UK-based Abbey Home Media works on franchises including Horrid Henry, Sesame Street, Paddington Bear and The Magic Roundabout.Moore is also a veteran of 20th Century Fox.He said: 'Since coming back to London ...

  • News

    MercuryMedia takes on Toronto doc Sea Point Days

    2008-09-01T16:34:00Z

    UK-based documentary film sales company Mercury Media has acquired world rights (excluding North America) to Sea Point Days.The film is set to premiere at the forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival.The feature-length documentary is directed by South African film-maker Francois Verster. The film is about a seaside public pool area in ...

  • News

    Metrodome takes UK rights to Winterbottom's Genova

    2008-09-01T16:30:00Z

    Ahead of its premieres in Toronto and San Sebastian, the UK and Irish rights to Michael Winterbottom's latest film Genova have been snapped up by Metrodome Distribution.The deal was done directly with production company Revolution Films, founded by Winterbottom and his producer Andrew Eaton.The deal was negotiated between Metrodome CEO ...

  • News

    Lionsgate UK:Ready to roar

    2008-08-29T00:00:00Z

    It's a fascinating opportunity,' Zygi Kamasa says of his job as head of Lionsgate UK. He has the power (and financial backing) of a major US player while also having the autonomy to run the UK operation as a separate business. No wonder Kamasa has just signed a new three-year ...