All articles by Liz Shackleton – Page 151

  • News

    Chen, McLachlan to star in Beresford's Last Dancer

    2008-02-26T11:20:00Z

    Kyle McLachlan, Bruce Greenwood and Joan Chen have been cast in Bruce Beresford's adaptation of the best-selling book, Mao's Last Dancer, which starts shooting in China next month. Jack Thompson, Aden Young, Amanda Schull and Wang Shungbao (Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress) have also joined the multinational cast.Paris-based Celluloid ...

  • News

    Chuang takes up distribution post at restructured Star

    2008-02-22T16:07:00Z

    Hong Kong-based regional broadcaster Star Group has folded its Fortune Star division back into its main TV programming production and distribution operation, and appointed Yvonne Chuang as vice president, programme syndication and distribution, effective March 10. Fortune Star's production team will report to David Searl, Star Group's senior vice president ...

  • News

    Hui's The Way We Are to have world premiere at HKIFF

    2008-02-22T14:47:00Z

    Ann Hui's The Way We Are and Vincent Chui's Love Is Elsewhere are among the local films making their world premiere at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF). The fest, which runs March 17-April 6, will screen nearly 300 films from 46 countries.This year's Filmmaker In Focus is ...

  • News

    FDC grants funding to McDull WuDang, Claustrophobia

    2008-02-20T15:53:00Z

    Animation McDull WuDang and live-action feature Claustrophobia have become the first two film projects to be approved for funding by Hong Kong's recently-established Film Development Fund (FDF). Administered by the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the fund is designed to support small to medium-sized productions. McDull WuDang is budgeted ...

  • News

    Kabei, Demon to open Hong Kong InternationalFilm Festival

    2008-02-20T11:27:00Z

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced that Japanese director Yoji Yamada's Kabei - Our Mother and Soul Of A Demon, directed by Taiwan's Chang Tso-chi, will open the 32nd edition of the festival (March 17-April 6). Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light and Coffee Or ...

  • News

    Disney more than doubles its stake in India's UTV

    2008-02-18T14:38:00Z

    The Walt Disney Company has invested around $203m (Rs8.05bn) to more than double its stake in India 's UTV Software Communications from 13.7% to 32.1%. At the same time, Disney has also acquired a 15% stake in UTV Global Broadcasting Limited (UGBL) worth $30m (Rs1.19bn). UTV will also invest $60m ...

  • News

    Fortissimo sings with Majidi's Song Of Sparrows

    2008-02-18T12:33:00Z

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights outside of Iran to Majid Majidi's The Song Of Sparrows, winner of the Silver Bear for best actor at this year's Berlin Film Festival. Prior to its win at the Berlinale, the film also picked up the best director, editing, original score and ...

  • News

    David Lee steps down as EVP at Weinstein Company in Asia

    2008-02-14T06:00:00Z

    DavidLee has stepped down as executive vice president of Asian Operations atThe Weinstein Company, where he was responsible for overseeing creativeaspects of the company's Asian Film Fund. He will be partially replaced by Steve Squillante who has come on board as a consultant for the fund. Squillantewill work alongside TWC's ...

  • News

    Hong Sang-soo's Woman goes to France with Umedia

    2008-02-13T06:00:00Z

    Korea's Mirovision has sealed a French deal on Hong Sang-soo's previous film, Woman On The Beach, which has been sold to Umedia. Hong's current film, Night And Day, is screening in competition here at Berlin and is being sold directly by the producers, Bom Film Productions.Woman On The Beach, which ...

  • News

    Fortissimo seals raft of deals on Marley, CSNY docs

    2008-02-13T06:00:00Z

    Fortissimo Films has closed a raft of deals on its recently-announced Bob Marley documentary, which Martin Scorsese is directing for delivery in 2010. The as-yet-untitled film, produced by Shangri-La Entertainment and unveiled at the beginning of the EFM, has already been snapped up by the UK's Contender, South Africa's Nu ...

  • News

    Host co-producer Jang prepares Pepper in London

    2008-02-13T06:00:00Z

    Korean female producer Junyoung Jang, who was one of the producers on The Host, has relocated to London where she is setting up a $10m time travel adventure film, entitled Charlie Pepper. The film is being set up as a co-production between Jang's London-based February Films and Hungarian producer Ildiko ...

  • News

    T-Joy acquires Japanese rights to Bodrov's Mongol

    2008-02-11T00:21:15Z

    Japan's T-Joy has pounced on Oscar-nominated epic drama Mongol, acquiring all Japanese rights through its recently-established Laterna label. Beta Cinema is selling the Sergei Bodrov-directed film, which is one of the final nominees for this year's best foreign-language film Oscar and features Japanese star Asano Tadanobu in the lead role ...

  • News

    Palador Pictures acquires Indian rights to Shine A Light

    2008-02-10T10:55:00Z

    Mumbai-based Palador Pictures has acquired Indian rights to Berlin opening film Shine A Light from Fortissimo Films. Although the Indian market has traditionally been dominated by local product, Indian buyers are becoming more active as local multiplexes and audiences open up to foreign films.In addition, three Indian companies - Palador, ...

  • News

    Minghella to head Shanghai film festival jury

    2008-02-10T10:47:00Z

    Anthony Minghella will serve as president of the international jury at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), which takes place June 14-22. This year's festival will also feature the second edition of contents market SIFF Mart and projects market China Film Pitch & Catch (CFPC). The latter two-day event ...

  • News

    Japan's Iseki Satoru to produce Korean epic Sharaku

    2008-02-10T06:00:00Z

    Japanese producer Iseki Satoru (Battle Of Wits) has boarded epic mystery fantasy Sharaku (working title), which Park Tae-choon is directing for Korea's Studio2.0. Studio 2.0 is co-financing and handling international sales on the $8m Korean-Japanese co-production, which will be shot in Japan with a mostly Japanese cast and crew. Behind-the-scenes ...

  • News

    TWC's Shanghai and other foreign shoots face China crisis

    2008-02-10T06:00:00Z

    The Chinese authorities have refused to grant shooting permission to Mikael Hafstrom's period drama Shanghai, set to star John Cusack and Gong Li, forcing the producers to scramble to find another Asian location.The Weinstein Company is backing the production, which has been in pre-production in China since last September and ...

  • News

    Eros takes international rights to Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raaj

    2008-02-09T06:00:00Z

    Indian powerhouse Eros International has acquired international rights to Ram Gopal Varma's upcoming Sarkar Raaj. Starring the hot family trio of Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, the film is a sequel to Varma's award-winning Sarkar, which delves into the links between politicians and the underworld in modern-day Mumbai. ...

  • News

    iDream looks into The Voyeurs by Dasgupta

    2008-02-09T06:00:00Z

    London and Mumbai-based iDream Independent Pictures has picked up worldwide rights, excluding India, to The Voyeurs directed by veteran Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta.The film follows a young man who falls in love with the girl next door, and looks at whether our obsession with surveillance has really made the world ...

  • News

    The Weinstein Company, Showbox hot for Chocolate

    2008-02-09T06:00:00Z

    Thai actioner Chocolate - which opened at the top of the Thai box office this week - has been gobbled up by several international distributors including The Weinstein Company which has taken North American rights. Produced and sold by Sahamongkolfilm International, the picture has also been sold to Showbox Media ...

  • News

    CJ Entertainment to sell The Good, The Bad And The Weird

    2008-02-09T06:00:00Z

    Korea's CJ Entertainment has confirmed that it has picked up worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to Kim Jee-woon's The Good, The Bad And The Weird, while producer Barunson is handling Japanese rights. The film was previously sold internationally by Cineclick Asia whose founder Suh Youngjoo recently quit to found international sales ...