All Asia articles – Page 497

  • News

    Rinko Kikuchi, Ryo Kase to voice Sky Crawlers

    2008-04-16T11:24:00Z

    Oscar-nominated actress Rinko Kikuchi (Babel) and Letters From Iwo Jima star Ryo Kase will voice the two main characters in Mamoru Oshii's The Sky Crawlers, distributor Warner Brothers Japan announced today. Actress Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and Shosuke Tanimura will provide voices for supporting characters.The announcement was made ahead of ...

  • News

    Polybona sets up international sales outfit

    2008-04-16T09:32:00Z

    Beijing-based distributor Polybona is entering the international sales arena by taking a 51% stake in start-up sales outfit Distribution Workshop, established by Hong Kong film industry veterans Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan. Distribution Workshop will handle projects that Polybona has invested in - the company has been quietly moving from ...

  • News

    TWC's Shanghai to shoot in UK, Thailand from May

    2008-04-16T04:54:00Z

    The Weinstein Company has confirmed that Mikael Hafstrom's Shanghai, starring John Cusack, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe, will start shooting on May 5 in London. The film will also shoot in Thailand, and possibly China, for a North American release on Christmas day. It was previously refused shooting permission by ...

  • News

    Indian effects house EyeQube opens its doors in Mumbai

    2008-04-16T03:22:00Z

    Eros International's previously announced visual effects joint venture, EyeQube Studios, has officially commenced operations in Mumbai with two Hindi-language productions, Aladdin and Drona. A joint venture with visual effects talent Charles Darby, EyeQube occupies 20,000 square feet and uses Auto Desk's Maya for 3D work and The Foundry's Nuke as ...

  • News

    China Film, XFMedia join forces for Sino-US co-productions

    2008-04-15T07:33:00Z

    Beijing-based XFMedia Group has announced a strategic alliance with China Film Group to collaborate on the production, distribution and international sales of Chinese films, including Sino-US co-productions. XFMedia has partnered with David Lee, former vice president of The Weinstein Company's Asian Operations, to establish a new subsidiary Xinhua Media Entertainment ...

  • News

    Eros strikes co-production deal with Nadiadwala Grandson

    2008-04-14T16:01:00Z

    India's Eros International has entered into a four-picture co-productionagreement with local production house Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The deal will encompass two unidentified projects directed by Siddharth Anand (Salaam Namaste), along with Kambakht Ishq, directed by Saabir Khan and featuring Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles, which goes ...

  • News

    Mediaplex to shut down Motion 101 production arm

    2008-04-14T08:44:00Z

    Major Korean entertainment company Mediaplex is set to close down its upstart production arm Motion 101, giving rise to speculation regarding its parent company Orion Group's future intentions for the film business. Mediaplex houses major investor/distributor Showbox and operates the Megabox theatre chain.It sold off the latter, which it built ...

  • News

    Miyazaki's Ponyo On A Cliff set for July 19 release

    2008-04-14T05:40:00Z

    Japan's Studio Ghibli has announced a release date and other details of director Hayao Miyazaki's latest film Ponyo On A Cliff By The Sea. At a press conference held at the screening facilities of Studio Ghibli's regular distribution partner Toho, Ponyo producer Toshio Suzukisaid the film will open on Saturday, ...

  • News

    The Warlords rules the roost at Hong Kong Film Awards

    2008-04-14T05:02:00Z

    Peter Ho-sun Chan's epic war drama The Warlords dominated the Hong Kong Film Awards last night (April 13), scooping eight prizes including best film, best director and best actor for Jet Li. The film, which was a big hit in China last year grossing more than $29m, was also awarded ...

  • News

    Mendoza's Slingshot dominates Singapore awards

    2008-04-13T23:06:00Z

    Philippine director Brillante 'Dante' Mendoza's Slingshot dominated Singapore's Silver Screen Awards, walking away with best film, best director and the NETPAC award.Actress Inessa Kislova won best performance for Abai Kulbai's coming-of-age tale Swift while Abdellatif Abdelhamid's Syrian comedy Out of Coverage received a special jury award at the ceremony organised ...

  • News

    China's Jinyi acquires Guangdong Zhujiang cinema circuit

    2008-04-11T11:13:00Z

    Guangzhou-based Jinyi Film and TV Investment Co has acquired a majority stake in Guangdong Zhujiang Cinema Circuit, creating a combined chain of 40 cinemas and 170 screens, mostly situated in southern Chinese provinces. The new circuit has been named Guangzhou Jinyi Zhujiang Cinema Circuit.As part of the Guangzhou-based real estate ...

  • News

    Celestial launches two movie channels on Now TV

    2008-04-11T07:43:00Z

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures is launching two new movie channels - Celestial Movies Asia (CMA) and Celestial Classic Movies (CCM) - which will be carried by PCCW's now TV IPTV service in Hong Kong. CMA will screen blockbusters from across Asia such as Erika Sawajiri's Closed Note, Francis Ng's One ...

  • News

    Hanhwa launches second fund as Korean IPTV market hots up

    2008-04-11T06:16:00Z

    Hanhwa's second Daisy Cultural Content Investment Fund, specialising in content such as films, animation and performances, will invest $10.2m (KW10bn) over five years. Hanaro Telecom is investing $2m in the fund, alongside Hanhwa Venture Capital Corp and film importer Daisy Entertainment, to buy up content for its IPTV service HanaTV.HanaTV ...

  • News

    21, Leatherheads kick off overseas campaigns in Europe as Horton hurtles away

    2008-04-11T02:47:00Z

    Fox International's Horton Hears A Who! remains the leading Hollywood export and looks like the one to beat this weekend as executives expect it to cross $100m.The family film has amassed $93.9m and opens in 10 territories including Greece on April 10.The romantic comedy 27 Dresses is doing well on ...

  • News

    Kitano unveils new project Achilles And The Tortoise

    2008-04-11T01:47:00Z

    Award-winning Japanese writer-director-actor Takeshi Kitano has unveiled details of his latest feature film, entitled Achilles And The Tortoise. Details of the production were announced at the Nikkatsu Studios in Chofu City, with the press invited on the soundstages.Kitano, also known for his paintings, found inspiration in past canvas embarrassments for ...

  • News

    MipTV market concludes on note of media and telecoms

    2008-04-10T15:19:00Z

    A chilly, rainy MipTV market wound down Thursday following keynote speeches focusing on media and the telecom companies and social networking. France Telecom Group's chairman and CEO, Didier Lombard, on Wednesday told attendees he never expected to be addressing a group of content makers. But, he said, 'I do truly ...

  • News

    NBC Universal appoints Christopher Williams to new VP role

    2008-04-10T11:17:00Z

    Christopher Williams has been appointed to the newly-create role of vice president, commercial and network development Asia Pacific, Global Networks, an international division of NBC Universal. Williams will be based in Singapore and will play a leadership role in NBC Universal's strategy to develop new channel businesses in new territories ...

  • News

    Australian Writers Guild quits Australian Screen Council in protest

    2008-04-09T16:00:00Z

    The dream of the Australian film and television production industry talking to government with one powerful voice on key issues is in tatters tonight with one of the four member organisations of the Australian Screen Council (ASC) resigning over what it says is financial mismanagement.The executive director of the Australian ...

  • News

    French comedies dominate international weekend

    2008-04-09T15:53:00Z

    French cinema enjoyed yet another impressive weekend in the international arena as two comedies accounted for 12.7% of the international top 40 revenue. New entry Disco was the highest entry in the chart this weekend, coming in at number two with an $8.7m take from Belgium, France and Switzerland. The ...

  • News

    Row erupts in Australia over production offset

    2008-04-09T14:23:00Z

    Two Australian film agencies are trading insults over the financing arrangements behind comedy drama Subdivision, which Japanese Story director Sue Brooks starts filming April 14. Both are investors.Once completed, Subdivision will be applying for 40% of its costs back under the new producer offset. It has always been assumed that ...