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British Film Commission partners with Screen on rebranded Location UK
1 hour ago
Now titled UK In Focus, the publication details the country’s talent, facilities and locations available to film and television productions.
The British Film Commission (Bfc) has partnered with Screen International’s parent company Media Business Insight (Mbi) to deliver its rebranded guide to the UK’s talent, facilities and locations available to the film and television industries.
The publication will showcase major upcoming productions across the UK’s regions and nations, spotlighting areas of excellence in the country’s infrastructure and skills base.
Screen International and sister publication Broadcast will produce and distribute UK In Focus, which will be launched at the Cannes Film Festival in May and distributed throughout the year at international markets, festivals and events.
Samantha Perahia, the Bfc’s head of production, commented: “It’s a genuine pleasure to be working with Mbi on UK in Focus. The Bfc’s role is to maximise and support film and television production in the »
beIN Media Group buys Miramax
8 hours ago
The Doha-based media and entertainment company has acquired 100% of Miramax following a deal with Qatar Investment Authority and Colony Capital announced on Wednesday.
There had been speculation about the deal last year as the Middle East sports broadcaster flexed its claws. It made several successful bids on French sports broadcasting contracts and had identified entertainment production as a growth area.
The parties said Miramax, the storied entertainment company that has gone through several owners after Harvey and Bob Weinstein founded it in 1979, will continue to operate as a film and TV studio.
This year Miramax will invest in and co-distribute the likes of Bad Santa 2, Bridget Jones’s Baby, The 9th Life Of Louis Drax, and Southside With You, the Sundance entry that Miramax acquired in a $2m North American deal announced in Berlin and will distribute with Roadside Attractions.
The slate includes From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, heading into its third season. Miramax’s library »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
Tribeca 2016 unveils first wave
8 hours ago
Top brass at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival presented by At&T have announced selections in the Us Narrative, International Narrative and Documentary Competition strands.
The films comprise 55 out of 110 features that will play during the 15th edition of the New York festival from April 13-24. The festival will present features films in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Sections on March 8.
Also included in Wednesday’s announcement are the out-of-competition Viewpoints titles.
The world premiere of Bill Ross and Turner Ross’ Contemporary Color will open the World Documentary competition on April 14, while the world premiere of Kicks by Justin Tipping will open the Us Narrative competition.
The world premiere of Madly directed by Gael García Bernal, Mia Wasikowska, Sebastian Silva, Anurag Kashyap, Sion Sono, and Natasha Khan will open the International Narrative Competition. Viewpoints will open with the world premiere of Nerdland directed by Chris Prynoski.
One third of the festival’s feature films are directed by women »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
Us Briefs: Sffs to honour Janus Films, Criterion Collection
14 hours ago
Plus: Participant Media promotes Sam Neswick to COO; FilmRise acquires Holy Hell; and more
The San Francisco Film Society will present the Mel Novikoff Award on April 30 to international art house cinema sister companies Janus Films and the Criterion Collection at the 59th San Francisco International Film Festival, set to run from April 21–May 5.
Peter Becker and Jonathan Turell of Janus Films and the Criterion Collection will take part in an on-stage conversation followed by a screening of Criterion’s most recent restoration, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Blood Simple. The Coen brothers are expected to participate in the presentation.
Participant Media has promoted Sam Neswick to COO. Neswick joined in 2014 as svp of strategic planning and was promoted last year to chief strategy officer. He recently drove Participant’s investment in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. Neswick will report to CEO David Linde.FilmRise has acquired Us rights from Donaldson Califf and Andrew Herwitz to [link »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
Alexander Payne’s 'Downsizing' gets Norwegian grant
14 hours ago
Downsizing and The Snowman receive Norway’s new Incentive Scheme grants, with the latter securing $4.6m.
The Norwegian Film Institute has approved a $520,000 (Nok 4.5m) Incentive Scheme grant for Alexander Payne’s Downsizing, which will partly shoot in Norway.
Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon star in Paramount’s social satire, written by Payne with his usual collaborator Jim Taylor, about a distant future when humans can shrink themselves to 1/8 their size, thanks to Scandinavian scientists.
The film’s plot opens in Norway before moving to Payne’s beloved Nebraska in the Us. The passion project is due to shoot later this year for launch in late 2017.
As previously reported, the first project backed under the fledgling Norwegian incentive was Tomas Alfredson’s Jo Nesbo adaptation The Snowman, which received a grant worth $4.6m (Nok 40.5). Working Title Films produces the detective story which will shoot in Oslo, Bergen and Riukan.
The new scheme, aimed at luring »
- wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
Efa backs protest against 'Ida' broadcast
18 hours ago
The Polish Director’s Guild previously condemned a Polish broadcaster’s treatment of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winner.
The European Film Academy (Efa) has added its voice to the protest against Poland’s public TV network Tvp for a perceived attack on Pawel Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning film Ida.
Last week the broadcaster showed a 12-minute editorial programme titled Around Ida prior to screening the film, in which it claimed Ida was historically inaccurate and, per an Efa press release, that it “won an Oscar only because of its pro-Jewish view point”.
According to the Efa, the Tvp editorial ended with a sequence of qualifying title cards displaying nationalistic messages that could have been mistakenly perceived to be a part of the film.
Ida follows a young Polish nun who discovers that her parents were Jewish and were murdered during the German occupation of Poland in World War Two.
Previously, the Polish Director’s Guild and some 90 Polish film journalists »
Oscar films face tough road in China
18 hours ago
Although The Revenant is set for a March release in China, very few Oscar winners make it to the big screen in the world’s second largest market.
Chinese social media was ablaze from lunchtime on Monday, when the news broke that Leonardo DiCaprio had finally won a best actor Oscar.
Known to Chinese audiences as “Xiao Lizi”, DiCaprio has been a huge star in China ever since Titanic. His popularity and the anticipated Oscars buzz explain why The Revenant attracted a Chinese investor, Guangdong-based Alpha Animation, and was acquired by Bona Film Group for theatrical distribution.
Originally lined up for release in mid-February, the film was delayed by the censorship process, and is currently scheduled to open with cuts on March 18.
But The Revenant remains an exception in China where very few Oscar-winning films play in theatres. Although censorship plays a role in this, China’s quota system and the films’ perceived commercial potential are also »
- lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
Svensk Filmindustri promotes Jenny Stjernströmer Björk, Elsa Berg
18 hours ago
The pair take up positions as chief content officer and executive vp business operations, respectively.
Scandinavian film distribution and production outfit Svensk Filmindustri has promoted Jenny Stjernströmer Björk and Elsa Berg.
Björk, previously executive vp acquisition and co-production is now the company’s chief content officer, while Berg, formerly head of corporate communication and Hr will work alongside her as executive vice president business operations.
In her new role, Björk will be responsible for content across the company. “To have been part of the very exciting transformation we have implemented within the company the last few years has been very rewarding. The opportunity to also take on the Cco responsibility is nothing but a dream come true,” she said.
Berg’s new position focuses on the financing of acquisitions and co-productions as well as business development. “I am very excited to take on this new role and to work together with Jenny and our great team towards »
Cinema-on-demand service ourscreen adds Vue
21 hours ago
The crowdsourced screening platform has added 19 Vue cinemas to its portfolio.
Crowdsourcing cinema platform ourscreen has added Vue to its expanding list of partners, with 19 venues now available via the service.
Ourscreen allows customers to select a film from a library of more than 400 titles and to programme a screening at a cinema of their choice providing enough tickets are sold.
The service currently works across 57 UK venues in 21 cities.
Available titles include Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years and Asif Kapadia’s Amy, and classics including Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Current partners include Picturehouse, Empire and single sites including Derby’s Quad and London’s Genesis Cinema. »
Koch takes 'The Model' for Germany, Italy
21 hours ago
TrustNordisk sells Mads Matthiesen’s fashion drama to four more territories.
German distribution outfit Koch Films has picked up rights to Mads Matthiesen’s fashion drama The Model for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
The Paris-set feature follows a young Danish model who becomes dangerously obsessed with a photographer.
The deal was negotiated at Efm between Moritz Peters, director of acquisitions and TV sales at Koch Films and Susan Wendt, head of sales at TrustNordisk.
The film stars Deadpool’s Ed Skrein and fashion model Maria Palm in her film debut.
The Model previously scored Efm deals for Latin America (California Filmes), China (Hgc Entertainment), Russia Cis (Voxell Media), Hungary (Vertigo Media), Turkey (Ozen Film), Estonia (Estin Film), Lithuania (Incognito Film), Former Yugoslavia (2i Film d.o.o.), France (Ab Groupe), Poland (Kino Swiat), Korea (Scene & Sound), Bulgaria (Pro Films) and Middle East (Gulf Film).
Peters said: “We are surprised that this very interesting subject hasn’t »
Italian box office sensation 'Quo Vado?' finds buyers
21 hours ago
Exclusive: Italian box office smash Quo Vado? has been sold to UK, Germany and Spain among other markets.
Taodue has scored key deals on its box office sensation Quo Vado?, the second-highest grossing film of all time in Italy.
Deals to close prior to and during the Efm include Germany and Austria (Weltkino), Spain (A Contracorriente Films), UK (Vue Cinemas), Portugal (Outsider Films/A Contracorriente Films), Greece (Spentzos Films), Russia (Cinema Prestige) and Australia and New Zealand (Palace Films). A deal for Latin America and Middle East with Italia Film and additional deals are also in the works.
Italian comedian Checco Zalone stars in writer-director Gennaro Nunviante’s Quo Vado?, about a middle-aged Italian slacker who goes to any lengths to hold onto his 9 to 5 government job.
The Taodue-produced comedy is second only to Avatar at the Italian box office, having taken $70.8m and overtaking previous Zalone and Taodue collaboration Sole A Catinelle ($56.3m).
Italian powerhouse Taodue »
Italian box office sensation 'Quo Vado?' finds key buyers
21 hours ago
Exclusive: Italian box office smash Quo Vado? has been sold to UK, Germany and Spain among other markets.
Taodue has scored key deals on its box office sensation Quo Vado?, the second-highest grossing film of all time in Italy.
Deals to close prior to and during the Efm include Germany and Austria (Weltkino), Spain (A Contracorriente Films), UK (Vue Cinemas), Portugal (Outsider Films/A Contracorriente Films), Greece (Spentzos Films), Russia (Cinema Prestige) and Australia and New Zealand (Palace Films). A deal for Latin America and Middle East with Italia Film and additional deals are also in the works.
Italian comedian Checco Zalone stars in writer-director Gennaro Nunviante’s Quo Vado?, about a middle-aged Italian slacker who goes to any lengths to hold onto his 9 to 5 government job.
The Taodue-produced comedy is second only to Avatar at the Italian box office, having taken $70.8m and overtaking previous Zalone and Taodue collaboration Sole A Catinelle ($56.3m).
Italian powerhouse Taodue »
Finecut picks up music drama 'One Step'
1 March 2016 8:28 PM, PST
Seoul-based sales company Finecut has picked up music-themed drama One Step, starring K-pop singer Sandara Park, Han Jae-seok and Cho Dong-in.
Juhn Jaihong, whose credits include Poongsan and Beautiful, is directing the film with Kim Sujin (The Great Queen Seondoek) as music director.
Park, a member of K-pop band 2NE1, plays a woman who has lost her memories and suffers from synesthesia following a car accident. While dreaming, she hears a song which could be the key to her forgotten past.
Han plays a composer who offers to help her identify the song she is hearing, while Cho plays a rock guitarist who is secretly in love with her.
Park’s previous acting roles include 2015 web drama Dr Ian, for which she won best actress at the first KWeb Festival. Han is a TV actor who gained popularity through hit shows including All About Love and Taiwanese production Amor De Tapapaca. Cho won best »
- lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
Ye Ning appointed CEO of Huayi Brothers Pictures
1 March 2016 7:39 PM, PST
Former Wanda executive Ye Ning has been appointed as CEO of Huayi Brothers Pictures, overseeing the studio’s film production, distribution and cinema business.
Ye has also been named vice president of parent company Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. He was previously vice president of Wanda Cultural Industries Group, overseeing Wanda Cinema Line and Wanda’s film production and distribution business.
Huayi Brothers Media is expected to soon announce a new role for the company’s co-founder and president, James Wang, who currently oversees all film and cinema operations. Wang founded the company with his brother Dennis Wang in 1994.
Huayi Brothers is one of China’s biggest studios with recent hits including Mojin – The Lost Legend, a co-production with Wanda and Enlight Pictures, which grossed $256m at the end of last year, and Guan Hu’s Mr Six, which grossed $137m. The company also operates a cinema line.
In a regulatory filing at the end of January, Huayi »
- lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
Jeffrey Katzenberg "fantasises" about Paramount merger
1 March 2016 2:03 PM, PST
The DreamWorks Animation chief told the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday that he has thought a lot about a merger with Paramount.
Jeffrey Katzenberg added that he knew Viacom, which has been courting potential investors, would only be interested in selling a minority stake.
While that strategy would not suit his shareholders’ interests, Katzenberg did not rule out the possibility of finding a financial partner and approaching the studio.
“[P]utting together the assets of Paramount and DreamWorks could be extremely valuable,” he told attendees. “We could bring a lot to that business.”
The media mogul went on to say, “Is it something I fantasise about? Yeah. That could be very exciting.”
He also announced publicly for the first time that TV animation is now the most valuable part of the DreamWorks Animation business, which is about half-way through the restructure announced in January 2015 when roughly one-fith of the work-force was laid »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
AFI Fest sets 2016 dates
1 March 2016 12:33 PM, PST
The 30th edition of the festival will run this year from November 10-17 in Hollywood.
AFI Fest 2015 hosted 130 films from 45 countries, of which 77 were features and 53 were shorts.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognises AFI Fest as a qualifying festival for the live-action and animated short film categories at the Oscars.
Last year’s edition included the world premiere of The Big Short, which won the best adapted screenplay Oscar on Sunday, and there was a dual tribute to 45 Years stars Charlotte Rampling, who was also nominated for an Oscar, and Tom Courtenay.
On-stage conversation participants included Ridley Scott, Benicio Del Toro, Suffragette director Sarah Gavron and writer Abi Morgan, Youth’s Michael Caine and director Paolo Sorrentino, and Johnny Depp and his Black Mass director Scott Cooper. »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
TWC targets awards, dates 'The Founder', 'Lion'
1 March 2016 9:57 AM, PST
Seeking his first best picture Oscar in what will be five years come February 26 2017, Harvey Weinstein has planted two flags in the upcoming awards season.
The Founder moves up from November 25 to August 5 and stars Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, the Illinois milkshake machine salesman who turned McDonalds into the global juggernaut it is today.
John Lee Hancock directs from a screenplay by Robert D Siegel. Nick Offerman, Linda Cardellini, Laura Dern, Bj Novak, and John Carroll Lynch round out the key cast.
Don Handfield, Karen Lunder, Jeremy Renner, and Aaron Ryder produce. FilmNation licensed international territories.
Lion, a feel-good story from See-Saw Films, Weinstein’s collaborators on the 2010 multiple Oscar winner The King’s Speech, moves into the November 25 slot for a limited release that will qualify for awards consideration.
Garth Davis, who co-directed with Jane Campion See-Saw’s TV series Top Of The Lake, directs Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, and [link=nm »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
Music Box acquires Swedish hit 'A Man Called Ove'
1 March 2016 8:22 AM, PST
Hannes Holm’s comedy-drama is the fifth-highest grossing local film in Sweden.
Music Box Films has acquired North American rights to Swedish box office hit A Man Called Ove, directed by Hannes Holm.
The deal was negotiated at Efm between the president of Music Box Films, William Schopf, and head of sales at TrustNordisk, Susan Wendt.
A Man Called Ove opened in Sweden in December and went on to generate more than 1.6m admissions in that country. In January the film won three Gulbagge awards, including Best Actor for Lassgård.
The film is based on the best-selling book by Fredrik Backman, and follows the story of a grumpy old man, played by Rolf Lassgård.
Further deals closed in Berlin include sales to Japan (Medallion Media), France (Paradis Films), Spain (Savor), Greece (Videorama), Taiwan (Swallow Wings Films Co.), Lithuania (Scanorama).
Previously announced deals include Germany, Austria (Concorde), Benelux (September Film Rights), Switzerland (Praesens-Film Ag), Hungary (Vertigo Media), Estonia »
Lionsgate, Hulu partner on 'Joshy'
1 March 2016 8:20 AM, PST
Hulu has made its first significant acquisition of a festival film, joining Lionsgate on North American rights to Jeff Baena’s recent Sundance world premiere.
The deal marks the arrival on the acquisitions scene of another major digital force after well-documented seismic forays by Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Insiders had been predicting for some time that the streaming service known primarily for TV would make a move into film acquisition.
Hulu has a non-exclusive deal with Epix and announced an exclusive documentary output partnership with IFC in Park City, however this marks the first time it has acquired a feature, rather than merely licensed streaming rights.
Hulu, which has brought on more staff of late and expanded its headquarters in Santa Monica’s so-called Silicon Beach, will stream Joshy exclusively after the theatrical run on Lionsgate’s specialty label Lionsgate Premiere.
Joshy premiered in Park City in the Us Dramatic Competition strand and the ensemble cast includes »
- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
How the UK box office can build on a blockbuster 2015
1 March 2016 7:05 AM, PST
Following a record-breaking 2015, Screen spoke to industry about maintaining momentum and adding variety.
After a record-breaking year at the UK box office, with takings of $1.92bn, many industry were resigned to an inevitable drop in 2016.
One senior exhibition executive Screen spoke to forecast a 1.5% year-on-year downturn.
A number of this year’s tentpoles, including Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Independence Day: Resurgence, are not expected to match up to the goliath numbers taken by Jurassic World¸ Spectre and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which grossed $380.5m between them in 2015, 19.8% of the year’s total box office.
However, a strong start to 2016 has generated renewed optimism. For the first eight weeks of 2016 (up to last Thursday, 25th Feb) box office stands at £217m, which is up 2.6% on the same eight weeks in 2015, according to Rentrak.
Early over-achievers this year have included Oscar-winning high-end arthouse hit The Revenant, which currently stands at $30.1m, and 15-certificate »
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