Denmark's Digital Film Lab (DFL) has moved into a new direction with a contract from Microsoft Corp./LA to develop the implementation of High Definition in a future version of the Windows Media Player.

'To be recognised as the right partner to carry out development for Microsoft has been a very important step for us,' says Kris Kolodziejski, CEO of DFL. 'Our strength is the calibration and management of high-resolution systems for digital postproduction, and we had a very interesting working relationship with Microsoft.'

The aim has been to ensure Windows Media in the future can work with High Definition material, and the increased quality it insures. The results of this collaboration will be presented at NAB in Las Vegas later this year.

DFL has had international success with Digital Intermediate productions on features and shorts, which is still its main area, but has also recently moved into digital archive film restoration as well as research and development for the computer industry. Paul Read, who was DFL's consultant on archival restoration and film technology for some years, will in the future head the DFL London facility in collaboration with Kris Kolodziejski.

Day-to-day manager of the London office will be the new Sales & Marketing Manager Zahida Bacchus, who worked for nine years with UK lab, Soho Images. Among many recent digital postproduction tasks DFL was responsible for the distinct visuals of Berlin Golden-Bear winner Bloody Sunday and the Oscar-nominated Lagaan from India.

On the slate in DFL's labs in London and Copenhagen are a number of films from around the world including Unni Traume's Music For Wedding And Funerals, Lasse Spang Olsen's Old Men In New Cars, Peter Mullan's The Magdalene Sisters, Alex Cox's Revengers Tragedy and John Henderson's upcoming Two Men Went To War.