All articles by Melanie Rodier – Page 6
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Wild Bunch strikes slew of sales on Viva Zapatero!
French salesoutfit Wild Bunch has made a swathe of sales on hot Italian documentary VivaZapatero!The documentary, which has screened in Venice and at theSan Sebastian Film Festival, has sold to Spain (Golem), Belgium (Cineart),Holland (A-Film), France (Haut et Court) and Switzerland (Frenetic). Directed bycomedian Sabina Guzzanti, Viva Zapatero focuses on ...
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Italian veterans line-up ambitious new projects
While the Italian filmindustry continues to grapple with a two-year financial crisis, the country'susual suspects are lining up ambitious new pictures. These include RenzoMartinelli, director of local special effects-heavy picture Vajont, whois currently shooting a film about terrorism entitled Il Mercante di Pietre(literally, The Precious Stones Merchant). The film is ...
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Ferrara lines up prequel to King Of New York
Cult American indie filmmaker Abel Ferrara, whose picture Maryis screening in competition at the Venice Film Festival, has announced that hisnext project will either be a prequel to the King Of New York orlong-gestating screwball comedy Go Go Tales.Speaking in Venice, Ferrara said that he is currentlylooking for financing for ...
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Viva Zapatero earns Venice buzz
One of thefilms that has earned the biggest round of applause on the Lido is Italiandocumentary Viva Zapatero! which focuses onthe thorny subject of censorship in Italy.Thefilm is directed by comedian Sabina Guzzanti, whose satirical program RAIOT wasremoved from the airwaves after only one episode in November 2003. VivaZapatero,which screened ...
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Venice Festival goes for Brokeback
AngLee's Brokeback Mountain has won the Golden Lion at the 62nd Venice Film Festival.The Grand Jury prize went to Abel Ferrara for Mary, while George Clooney'sheavily-tipped Good Night. And Good Luck won two consolation prizes - Best Actorfor David Strathairn's portrayal of journalist Edward R Murrow, and a Lion forClooney's ...
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Bim kneels to Frears' Queen
In one of asmattering of deals signed at the Venice Film Festival, veteran arthousedistributor Bim has acquired Italian rights to Stephen Frears' next film, TheQueen, about thedeath of Princess Diana. StarringHelen Mirren as the Queen, the picture delves into the relationship betweenTony Blair and the British Royal Family from the ...
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Venice goes for Brokeback
Ang Lee's BrokebackMountain won the Golden Lion at the62nd Venice Film Festival yesterday. The Grand Jury prize went to Abel Ferrerafor Mary, while George Clooney'sheavily-tipped Good Night. And, Good Luck won two consolation prizes - Best Actor for David Strathairn'sportrayal of journalist Edward R Murrow, and a Lion for Clooney's ...
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Mueller reiterates resignation threat despite Venice success
Asthe Venice Film Festival draws to an end, artistic director Marco Mueller canbreathe a sigh of relief: he has managed to largely satisfy the critics withhis selection, while also ironing out the organisational problems that marredlast year's event. However,Mueller's eye is also firmly placed on the festival's appeal as a ...
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Mikado snaps up Venice competition pair
Rome outfitMikado Film has acquired Italian distribution rights to two films that areplaying in competition at the Venice Film Festival, bringing its total tally tofour.The veteranarthouse distributor has picked up Manoel de Oliveira's Magic Mirror, and Abel Ferrara's controversialdrama Mary.Sold byFirst Hand Films, Magic Mirror is adapted from Agustina Bessa-Luis's ...
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Rai Cinema to remake Euros 20m Iron Crown
Rai Cinemais lining up a big-budget English-language remake of classic Italian 1941picture, The Iron Crown.Theoriginal film, directed by Alessandro Blasetti, focuses on a crown, supposedly made from a nail out of the Cross ofChrist and the metal of Roman swords, which becomes a legend and a symbol ofjustice. The newfantasy-gothic ...
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La Fenice set for Istituto Luce slate
Italian distributor Istituto Luce has unveiled a newco-production slate that includes both films by hot local directors andambitious international projects.Luce is currently lining up a Euros 20m noir-thrillerentitled La Fenice. The film, which will be entirely set in Venice, isexpected to star Colin Firth and Peter O'Toole, and will start ...
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Lucky Red launches genre label through Key Films
Italian indie distributor Lucky Red has acquired the nameand catalogue of Key Films and is launching a new genre label.Lucky Red's Andrea Occhipinti said the first film that hewill distribute under the new label will be Venice title Initial D byAndrew Lau and Alan Mak. The film is being sold ...
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Films Distribution strikes C.R.A.Z.Y deals
Frenchsales outfit Films Distribution has made a host of sales on its Venice title C.R.A.Z.Y.The Canadian picture by Jean-Marc Vallee is a family sagaset in Quebec between the 1960s to the present day, which focuses on a father'slove for his five sons, and one son's love for his father. The ...
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Venice films make waves over busy festival weekend
Four days in and bothbuyers and critics appear satisfied with the quality of films on offer acrossthe Venice Film Festival's different sections. But while industry memberscontinue to enjoy the festival's traditionally relaxed atmosphere, some arefinding the lack of a market and expensive prices an increasing hindrance.After the mixed reception for ...
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01 Distribution acquires Fine Art Of Love
01 Distribution has acquired Italian distribution rights toJohn Irvin's Venice out-of-competition title The Fine Art of Love.Sold by Rome's AdrianaChiesa Enterprises (ACE), Irvin's period drama revolves around six girls agedsixteen who have been living in a luxurious orphanage-cum-finishing school froma very young age.The film, which stars Jacqueline Bisset, is anItalian-Czech-UK ...
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Bim goes on pre-Venice buying spree
Rome arthouse distributor Bim has acquired Italiandistribution rights to a host of Venice films, including competition titles BrokebackMountain and The Constant Gardener.Sold by Focus/UIP, Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain is about therelationship between a Wyoming ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy. Heath Ledger andJake Gyllenhaal co-star.The Constant Gardener, which opened in North ...
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Venice kicks off with Swords, metal detectors
The 62nd VeniceInternational Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday night in hot and stickyweather with the world premiere of Tsui Hark's Seven Swords, amid heightened security measuresinvolving more than a dozen metal detectors and around 1,000 police officerspatroling the Lido.The black tieopening ceremony, which was hosted by Spanish model Ines ...
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Kitano film tipped to be surprise Venice competitor
TakeshiKitano's Takeshis is tipped to be the "surprise" last-minute entry inthe Venice Film Festival's competition.Takeshis, whichsees the Japanese director playing himself contronting a look-alike, is alsoset to screen at the Toronto Film Festival.Kitanolast attended the Venice Film Festival with his 2003 samurai romp Zatoichi.In themeantime, the Biennale was keeping tight-lipped ...
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Clooney rides on Good Luck at Venice
Actor-director George Clooney's Venice competition film Goodnight,And Good Luck has emerged as one of the first buzz films at the festival.Screen International reviewer Lee Marshall said thefilm "represents George Clooney's consecration as a serious writer anddirector" (see review, opposite).Goodnight was well received by critics atits Venice press screening, ahead of ...
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Israeli director completes Venice competition jury
Amos Gitai will complete the main competition jury at theupcoming 62nd Venice Film Festival, the Biennale has announced.The Israeli director will join jury president DanteFerretti, Chinese writer Acheng, directors Claire Denis and Edgar Reitz,Icelandic musician and actress Emiliana Torrini and producer Christine Vachon.Meanwhile, the Venice Film Festival has unveiled heightenedsecurity ...