13 articles

3 hours ago

Distributor Cinema Libre has hailed a successful opening weekend for the documentary that lost its Tribeca world premiere berth following an outcry over the veracity of its scientific claims.

Vaxxed: From Cover-Up To Catastrophe by Andrew Wakefield, which among other things discusses a causal link between the Mmr vaccine and autism and an alleged cover-up by a Us medical organisation, grossed $28,339 over three days at New York’s Angelika Film Center.

Tribeca Film Festival top brass pulled the film from the line-up last week when co-founder Robert De Niro, who has a child with autism, consulted colleagues and members of the scientific community and determined the film did not adequately contribute to the ongoing discussion about autism.

In an open letter to Filmmaker magazine, director Penny Lane called Wakefield a “discredited and dangerous anti-vaccination quack.”

Wakefield, who published research into an alleged link between the vaccine and autism, lost his license in the UK and a number »

- jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)

6 hours ago

Mars, which operates the Cinemaximum brand, has 710 screens across the country

South Korea’s largest exhibitor, Cj Cgv, has partnered with unnamed investors to acquire Turkey’s largest cinema china Mars Cinema for a reported $688m, which expands to $800 million with the inclusion of net debt.

According to Reuters, the South Korean outfit will take a 38% stake in the company, while unnamed partners will acquire the remaining 62%.

Mars operates 710 screens under the name Cinemaximum across Turkey and accounts for more than half of Turkey’s total box office.

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been brought in to manage the sale for Mars’ owners Actera Group and Esas Holding As.

Mars, which was founded in 2001 by Muzaffer Yildirim, was taken over by the Actera Group in 2010.

The deal accelerates an aggressive international roll-out by Korea’s leading exhibitor Cj. The company now has cinemas in China, Hong Kong, the Us, Vietnam and Indonesia »

10 hours ago

Morfydd Clark, Ade Edmundson and Charlotte Peters have all joined the biographical drama about Mozart.

Interlude In Prague, which stars Aneurin Barnard as Mozart, has commenced a six-week shoot in the eponymous Czech capital.

Joining a cast that already includes James Purefoy (Solomon Kane) and Samantha Banks (Les Miserables) is Morfydd Clark (Love & Friendship), Ade Edmundson (War & Peace) and Charlotte Peters (Pound Of Flesh).

The story follows Mozart as he composes his operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni. While visiting Prague, the composer becomes embroiled in a turbulent narrative of lust and murder.

John Stephenson (Animal Farm) is directing from a script by debutant Brian Ashby. Huw Penallt Jones is producing for UK-based Productive International alongside Hannah Leader.

London-based Carnaby International are handling worldwide rights and, having introduced the title at Efm, will be commencing sales at Cannes in May. »

10 hours ago

Netflix picks up an ITV series while Public Enemy [pictured] scooped the inagural MIPDrama Screenings awards.

Beta Film takes TV-event Terror

Germany-based sales outfit Beta Film has picked up worldwide rights for Terror, a TV courtroom drama that uses audience participation to reach its conclusion. Standing accused is a German air force pilot who has shot down a civilian aircraft after it was hijacked by terrorists, killing everyone on board but saving a stadium full of innocent people. After witnessing the trial, viewers are encouraged to vote online, or via telephone or text message, to decide the verdict, guilty or not guilty. Carnage co-producer Oliver Berben has teamed on the project with writer Ferdinand von Schirach (Shades Of Guilt) and director Lars Kraume (The People vs Fritz Bauer). At Miptv, Beta will be offering Terror at Miptv as both as a ready-made feature and a format.

Public Enemy takes drama screening award

Topping a field of 12 high-end drama series »

11 hours ago

James Bond producer to join Greg Dyke in co-chairing BAFTA’s Council.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that Barbara Broccoli OBE has been appointed vice president for Film.

Following the recent appointment of Greg Dyke as BAFTA’s VP for Television, Broccoli will join Dyke in co-chairing BAFTA’s Council, assuming an ambassadorial role for the charity. Previous Film VP’s include Duncan Kenworthy (2009-2015) and Lord Puttnam (1995-2004).

Broccoli, who owns Eon Productions with her brother Michael G Wilson and has produced the last eight James Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre, said: “I am passionate about BAFTA’s role in educating, inspiring and celebrating generations of British film-makers. I am therefore honoured to accept the role of BAFTA’s Vice President for Film.”

BAFTA chair Anne Morrison said: “With her connections on both sides of the Atlantic, Barbara is well placed to be a brilliant ambassador for BAFTA and I know »

- michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)

11 hours ago

Company invests in trio of independent companies including Benedict Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch TV,Atlantis producer Urban Myth Films and Spain’s

Studiocanal has kicked off Miptv by announcing investment in a trio of independent TV drama production companies in the UK and Spain.

The Paris-based cinema and high-end TV division of Canal+ said it had taken a 33% share in Spanish company Bambú Producciones as well as 20% stakes in the UK’s Urban Myth Films and 20% in Sunny March TV.

Each deal includes distribution agreements, according to the French powerhouse.

Studiocanal said it had a special relationship with actor Cumberbatch through his roles in their feature productions, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Imitation Game.

The investment is in the recently launched TV arm of the company, rathan than the film operation. Studiocanal and SunnyMarch’s film arm are currently developing feature The War Magician.

Urban Myth Films was founded in 2013. Its team of international producers and screenwriters »

11 hours ago

Company invests in trio of independent companies including Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sunny March TV and Atlantis outfit Urban Myth.

Studiocanal has kicked off Miptv by announcing investment in a trio of independent TV drama production companies in the UK and Spain.

The Paris-based cinema and high-end TV division of Canal+ said it had taken a stake in Spanish company Bambú Producciones as well as 33% share the UK’s Urban Myth Films and 20% in Sunny March TV.

Each deal includes distribution agreements, according to the French powerhouse.

Studiocanal said it had a special relationship with actor Cumberbatch through his roles in their feature productions, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Imitation Game. Studiocanal and Sunny March are currently developing feature The War Magician.

Urban Myth Films was founded in 2013. Its team of international producers and screenwriters includes Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy, who were behind the launch of Shine Drama in 2002 and of several international hits series, including »

12 hours ago

French Connection director highlights “challenging time” for the future of world cinema.

Us director William Friedkin is to deliver the Cinema Masterclass at the 69th Cannes Film Festival (May 11-22). Filmmakers to previously give the masterclass include Martin Scorsese, Nanni Moretti, Wong Kar-wai, Quentin Tarantino, Marco Bellocchio, Philip Kaufman and Jacques Audiard.

Accepting the invitation, the director of The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973) said: “This is the most challenging time I can recall for the future of world cinema. There are massive changes coming for production and exhibition, more than I’ve experienced in over 50 years.”

He added it would be “an honour to share my thoughts and ideas with an audience at Cannes, the home of world cinema.”

Friedkin, who won the Oscar for Best Director in 1972 for The French Connection, is also known for features including Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in La (1985), Rampage (1987), The Guardian (1990), Bug (2006) and Killer Joe (2011).

The Masterclass, which »

- michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)

12 hours ago

The ceremony broadcast was banned in mainland China, reportedly due to the nomination of the politically-charged dystopian drama.Scroll down for the full list

Port Of Call emerged as a big winner with seven prizes from the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards, while controversial local independent production Ten Years was declared best film and The Taking Of Tiger Mountain’s Tsui Hark took best director.

Port Of Call, which came into the night with the most nominations at 13, pulled off a clean sweep of all the acting prizes: best actor for Aaron Kwok (his first Hkfa win), best actress for newcomer Jessie Li, best supporting actress for Elaine Jin, as well as best new performer and best supporting actor, both of which for Michael Ning.

The crime thriller also won best screenplay for writer-director Philip Yung and best cinematography for Christopher Doyle.

However, the biggest award of the evening went to Ten Years, which beat heavyweights »

12 hours ago

Exclusive: Appointment of former eOne exec comes as Paris company eyes expansion into larger European-financed, English-language productions.

Former eOne international sales executive Marie Garrett is joining the sales team of Bac Films, the Paris-based company has announced.

Garrett began her sales career at Studiocanal in Paris before being recruited to eOne’s sales operation in London by former boss Harold van Lier, shortly after he became president of its international film division in 2013. 

During her time there, Garrett worked on films such as the Oscar-winning Spotlight, Trumbo and Captain Fantastic.

Bac Films head of international sales Gilles Sousa said Garrett’s appointment was part of the company’s planned move into bigger budget, European-financed, English language co-productions. 

He said the company had hired Garrett for her experience at studio style companies such as Studiocanal and eOne as well as her international background.

“She’s a perfect fit to sell Bac’s evolving slate,” said Sousa.

Garrett »

12 hours ago

Exclusive: Appointment of former eOne exec comes as Paris company eyes expansion into larger European-financed, English-language productions.

Former eOne international sales executive Marie Garrett is joining the sales team of Bac Films, the Paris-based company has announced.

Garrett began her sales career at Studiocanal in Paris before being recruited to eOne’s sales operation in London by former boss Harold van Lier, shortly after he became president of its international film division in 2013. 

During her time there, Garrett worked on films such as the Oscar-winning Spotlight, Trumbo and Captain Fantastic.

Bac Films head of international sales Gilles Sousa said Garrett’s appointment was part of the company’s planned move into bigger budget, European-financed, English language co-productions. 

He said the company had hired Garrett for her experience at studio style companies such as Studiocanal and eOne as well as her international background.

“She’s a perfect fit to sell Bac’s evolving slate,” said Sousa.

Garrett »

13 hours ago

The Swedish Film Institute has backed nineteen projects in its latest round of funding.

Swedish director Sanna Lenken, who won Berlin’s Crystal Bear in 2015 with My Skinny Sister, is now making a 30-minute short Night Child (Nattbarn), based on a graphic novel by Hanna Gustafsson.

The story is about 14-year-old girl Iggy “who lives a parallel online life to avoid the everyday tedium. A story about identity, sexuality, borderlands and friendship.”

The film is one of several new productions getting backing from the Swedish Film Institute. Others include Dome Karukoski’s anticipated new Tom Of Finland biopic [pictured] and Agnieszka Holland’s Polish drama Game Count.

Other projects backed, listed from highest investments, are:

Becoming Zlatan, wr/dirs Fredrik Gertten, Magnus Gertten; prods Margarete Jangård, Lennart Ström. Documentary about charismatic footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović. $246,000 (2m Sek)

Tom Of Finland, dir Dome Karukoski, wr Aleksi Bardy, prods Gunnar Carlsson, Emma Åkesdotter Ronge. Drama about the »

- wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)

13 hours ago

Zhang Hanyi’s Life After Life won the top prize in the Young Cinema Competition.

Chinese director Zhang Hanyi’s Life After Life won the Firebird Award in the Young Cinema Competition at the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Mar 21 – Apr 4).

Händl Klaus’ Tomcat received the Jury Prize in the same section, which aims to discover and honour budding filmmakers.

In the Documentary Competition, the Firebird Award went to Zhao Liang’s Behemoth while the Jury Prize was awarded to Vitaly Mansky’s Under The Sun.

In the Short Film Competition, Leonor Teles’ Batrachian’s Ballad won the Firebird Award and Pimpaka Towira’s Prelude To The General took the Jury Prize.

Thai filmmaker Towira also won the Fipresci Prize for her feature film The Island Funeral.

The Signis Award, which pays tribute to films with social and humanitarian concerns, was presented to Martin Zandvliet’s Land Of Mine, while [link=nm »

13 articles

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