All Africa articles – Page 96
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Norwegian Fund backs projects including epic Max Manus
The Norwegian Film Fund's $3.1m backing hasgiven thegreen light for leading Norwegian producer John M Jacobsen's Max Manus, a WWII epic which will shoot from February. The fund also chipped in for two less expensive first features.From a screenplay by Thomas Nordseth based on Manus' own books, and produced by ...
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Vaclav Havel's play Leaving eyes big screen
Playwright and former Czech president Vaclav Havel says his new play is likely to become a feature film. (Leaving) Ochazeniwas published in book form in November and will see its stage premiere in May or June 2008.It is the first play in 18 years from Havel, a former dissident who ...
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Transmedia takes UK rights to Tornatore's The Unknown
UK distributor Transmedia International Releasing has taken all UK and Ireland rights to Guiseppe Tornatore's The Unknown (La Sconosciuta). A theatrical release is planned early next year. Transmedia's Simon Caplan negotiated the deal with Rome-based Adriana Chiesa. The Unknown won best film at Italy's Donatello Awards and is also the ...
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Rutger Hauer plans second masterclass in Rotterdam
Film-maker Rutger Hauer will again host a masterclass during The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR, Jan 23- Feb 3, 2008). The second Rutger Hauer Filmfactory, Jan 21-31, will invite 30 international film-makers to work with Hauer and other experts to make 12 short films. In addition to direction, writing, camera, ...
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New rules approved on European Audiovisual Media Services
The European Parliament has formally approved the Council's position on the new Audiovisual Media Services Without Frontiers Directive. The Directive promises to modernise the rules governing the sector and provide a comprehensive legal framework covering all services, including on-demand distribution of content.The Directive has been developed to a provide more ...
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Participant, Magnolia back Gibney's new lobbying documentary
Participant Productions (the outfit behind Oscar winner An Inconvenient Truth) is partnering with US distributor Magnolia on Burning Down The House, a new Alex Gibney feature-documentary about the murky world of political lobbying.This is a subject that has caused huge controversy in the US since political lobbyist Jack Abramoff was ...
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Garage takes top honours at Moretti's first Turin festival
Irish director Lenny Abrahamson's second feature Garage took the $36,600 (Euros 25,000) Best Film Prize at the 25th edition of the Turin Film Festival, which wrapped Saturday in the Northern Italian town. Scripted by Mark O'Halloran who also wrote Abrahamson's debut feature Adam & Paul, Garage is the story of ...
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Romanian triumph at European Film Awards
Romanian cinema was the big winner at this year's 20th edition of the European Film Award when director Cristian Mungiu picked up the honours for European Film 2007 and European Director 2007 for his Palme D'Or-winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Accepting his award, Mungiu called for continuing ...
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Gonzalon Arijon's Stranded takes top prize at IDFA
Gonzalon Arijon's Stranded (France) has won the VPRO Joris Ivens award, the top prize at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).The award comes with a cash prize of Euros 12,500. The film, about the survival story of the Uruguyan rugby team after a plane crash high in the Andes, was ...
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Wide sells Sabine to a dozen territories including US, UK
Underlining that there is still an appetite among theatrical buyers for feature documentaries, Paris-based Wide Management has been racking up sales on two of its titles that screened this week at International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).Sandrine Bonnaire's Her Name Is Sabine has been an especially strong draw for distributors. Bonnaire's ...
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Fox Baja veteran Arneson moves to Hungary's Korda Studios
After its first shoot for Universal's Hellboy 2 wrapped last week, new Hungarian studio Korda Studios has announced some new key members of its team.Charlie Arneson has been appointed studio manager at Korda. He comes to Hungary after 10 years as head of Fox Baja Studios in Mexico, best known ...
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CNC/FFA joint commission backs new Gaspar Noe film
Three projects were supported by the CNC/FFA's German-French Funding Commission this week from its 'mini-traite' co-production fund.Funding of $737,925 (Euros 500,000) went to Gaspar Noe's Japan-set Enter The Void which is being produced as a majority French co-production by Fidelite Films with Berlin-based Essential Filmproduktion and Italy's BIM Distribuzione. Currently ...
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Pretty Pictures acquires French rights to Hallam Foe
Pretty Pictures has acquired French rights to David Mackenzie's Hallam Foe from UK-based sales company Independent.Mackenzie's drama, which won the Silver Bear in Berlin, stars Jamie Bell and Sophia Myles.Pretty Pictures head James Velaise negotiated the deal with Independent's head of sales Abigail Walsh. 'We are absolutely thrilled that ...
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UTV scores Goal in 16 territories, while Beowulf keeps hold of top slot
Indian distributor UTV Communications had an international hit this weekend with Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, which enjoyed a $3.5m take and was the highest non-US entry into the top 40 chart.For the full chart, compiled by Len Klady, click here.The film, which is the second feature from director Vivek Agnihotri, ...
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Renny Harlin's $15m Mannerheim to shoot in August 2008
Finnish actor Mikko Nousiainen, who starred in local blockbuster The Restless will play Finnish historical legend Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in a $14.7m (Euros 10m) biopic, which will mark the return to Finland of Finnish/Hollywood director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2: Die Harder).Principal photography for the film has been scheduled ...
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Marrakech to open with Elizabeth and close with The Neighbor
The seventh edition of the Marrakech Film Festival will open with Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age and close with Eddie O'Flaherty's The Neighbor, organisers have announced.The jury will be headed by Milos Forman who will be backed up by Kapur, John Hurt, Pavel Lounguine, Aissa Maiga, Claude Miller, Parker ...
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Polanski's adaptation of The Ghost to start shooting in summer 2008
UK novelist Robert Harris, in Turin to promote his novel The Ghost, provided new details on the film adaptation of the book which Roman Polanski will direct. The pair are working together on the script now.Harris also discussed Pompeii, the $100m epic that was cancelled last September when Polanski pulled ...
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Finnish government boost cinema funding after producers' strike
Apologising that he actually gave them more money than they went to strike for, Finnish culture minister Stefan Wallin has complied with Finnish producers' demands of increasing state funds for film production. As recommended by the Finnish Parliament's education, culture and audit committees, Wallin confirmed that the revenue from the ...
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Francesco Rosi to receive Berlinale tribute and Golden Bear
Veteran Italian director Francesco Rosi is to be honoured with an Homage and an Honorary Golden Bear at February 2008's Berlin International Film Festival. The Homage will present a selection of 13 films documenting Rosi's oeuvre of politically committed cinema over the decades and will include his 1961/62 film Salvatore ...
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Local box-office hit El Greco sweeps Greek State Cinema Awards
Just a day after the wrap of the 48th Thessaloniki Film Festival - where, for the first time, Greek talent garnered the bulk of awards - more Greek films were honored during the Greek State Cinema Awards organized by the Culture Ministry in Thessaloniki. This year's local box office hit, ...