The Web Today (Oct 2013 - June 2014)

July 3

Hollywood studio announces boot camp to nurture female directors
Female film-makers offered programme at 21st Century Fox to counter industry’s gender imbalance.
The Guardian

New platform lets Exeter cinema-goers pick which film they want to watch on the big screen
Film fans are being given the chance to control what is screened at the Exeter-based cinema after it joined up with the first social platform of its kind, ourscreen.
Exeter Express & Echo

Film academy sues over Oscar auction
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is suing the family of art director Joseph Wright over the sale of his Oscar for 1942’s My Gal Sal.
BBC News

Soccer Film Festival to be held at CAC
Cochin Arts and Communications (CAC) will be organising a month-long ‘Soccer Film Festival’ starting from July 4.
The New Indian Express

July 2

Brosnan keen to do Expendables 4

Actor Pierce Brosnan has confirmed he wants to join the next Expendables movie.

Irish Independent

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/brosnan-keen-to-do-expendables-4-30401228.html

Alex Turner and Miles Kane writing superhero movie

Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane are teaming-up to write a superhero movie, Kane has revealed.

MTV UK

http://www.mtv.co.uk/arctic-monkeys/news/alex-turner-and-miles-kane-writing-superhero-movie

Film fest brings Israel up-close for city buffs

Cine buffs get to see the best of art, life and even Indians up close through Israeli films in Bangalore this month.

The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/film-fest-brings-israel-upclose-for-city-buffs/article6167518.ece

Roman Polanski to film in Poland – as long as he won’t be extradited

Roman Polanski intends to film his next project in Poland, but only if the government can assure that he won’t be extradited to the US on child sex charges.

The Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/01/roman-polanski-poland-extradition

July 1

Bruce Springsteen to debut short film called ‘Hunter of Invisible Game’ on website on July 9
The film is a collaboration with Thom Zimny, who has worked with the Boss in the past.
AP

June 26

Gary Oldman ‘deeply remorseful’ for Jewish comments in Playboy interview
The actor Gary Oldman has apologised after saying Hollywood is a “town run by Jews” in an interview he gave to Playboy.
The Telegraph

NT Live Screenings ‘do not harm theatres’
Cinema screenings of play from the National Theatre do not harm regional theatres, new research suggests.
BBC

N. Korea slams Kim assassination comedy as ‘act of terror’
North Korea on Wednesday denounced a new Hollywood comedy about an assassination bid on leader Kim Jong-Un as a “wanton act of terror” and warned of a “merciless response” unless the US authorities banned the film. 
Bangkok Post

May 2

Ken Loach: ‘I am not retiring’
Director Ken Loach says he has no intention of retiring from making fictional films after appearing to suggest earlier this year that Jimmy’s Hall would be his last.
Express

Commission of Audit’s recommended funding cuts to film, arts would be ‘devastating’: screen industry
The Australian film and arts industries have expressed disbelief at Commission of Audit recommendations to slash Screen Australia funding in half and merge it with the Australia Council for the Arts.
ABC

Why ‘A113’ Is Planted In Nearly Every Pixar Movie
Reddit users think they have discovered why the code “A113” is present in nearly every Pixar movie, from “Finding Nemo” to “Up” to “Toy Story.”
Huffington Post

May 1

Author of Gravity the Novel Sues Makers of Gravity the Movie

Tess Gerritsen, the best-selling author behind the Rizzoli and Isles series, has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. The writer claims that Alfonso Cuarón’s script for the space blockbuster is partially based on her 1999 novel of the same name.
TIME

Movies by the inch: is this the future of film?

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the outspoken CEO of Dreamworks Animation, has come up with a revolutionary new way to charge for movies: by the size of screen you’re watching on. The theory is that you’d pay less to watch a film on a tablet screen than you would on your home TV.
Tech Radar

Screen Australia faces 50% funding cut and merger, under audit proposal

Screen Australia, the organisation responsible for a significant number of Australian films, could lose half its funding, according to the Commission of Audit. The industry body could also be merged with the Australia Council, the country’s main arts funding organisation.
The Guardian

Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

With ‘Sholay 3D’ as its opening selection, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) was launched here today by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the presence of Victorian minister for Tourism and major events Louise Asher and the festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange.
Indian Express

April 30

Could Grace Of Monaco Be The New Diana?

Super-producer Harvey Weinstein is said to be thinking about pulling the plug on his latest movie Grace of Monaco, which is set to open the Cannes Film Festival in two weeks.
Yahoo News

Bullock ‘for Tupperware film role’

Sandra Bullock is reportedly considering a role playing saleswoman Brownie Wise, who invented Tupperware parties in the 1950s.
Belfast Telegraph

Seattle International Film Festival to honor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laura Dern

The Seattle International Film Festival said it will honor Academy Award-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and actress, producer and director Laura Dern with Tribute awards for Outstanding Achievement in Acting at the 40th annual festival, which begins next month.
Pudget Sound Business Journal

April 29

Star Wars Episode VII: Are The Big Three already in the UK?

Rumours abound that the three potential lead actors (Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) for Star Wars Episode VII are already in the UK and preparing to shoot their scenes, and some reports claim that some of the actors have already started.
Metro

Nazi era films screened in Berlin

Eighty years after Nazi propaganda films were made and given to Hitler as a gift, they are again being screened in Berlin. The audience must attend a lecture and a debate before the screening - a move that some say is patronising.
BBC News

Tomas Alfredson to Direct The Snowman; Martin Scorsese to Executive Produce

The Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy director has signed on to direct The Snowman. Martin Scorsese was attached to direct the adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s crime thriller as of 2011.
Collider.com

April 28

Unseen Hollywood photos to go on display

Previously unseen photographs of Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Dirk Bogarde, taken by the late photographer George Douglas, are to go on display for the first time in Brighton.
BBC News

Cinecittà studios: Italy’s Hollywood home celebrated with Google doodle

Google’s latest doodle celebrates the Cinecittà studios in Rome, a home from home for Hollywood stars in the 1950s and 60s.
The Guardian

Justin Theroux, Liv Tyler and Paterson Joseph star in first trailer for The Leftovers

The new post-apocalyptic series from Lost creator Damon Lindelof focuses on the aftermath of a global “Rapture” which sees two per cent of the world’s population disappear without a trace.
Radio Times

April 27

John Travolta a hit at the 15th Indian International Film Academy awards in Florida

John Travolta was honoured as the Most Popular All-Time International Star in India, and did some on-the-spot Saturday Night Fever moves to roaring applause.
The National

April 25

Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale to walk that tightrope with Phiippe Petit in Zemeckis’ biopic!

That Philippe Petite biopic that Robert Zemeckis has been getting together for Joseph Gordon-Levitt has just added a few more cast members, including Sir Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale in as-yet-unknown roles.
Ain’t It Cool

April 22

Maya Angelou appointed Honorary Global Ambassador for Mandela International Film Festival

The acclaimed author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has accepted the role of Honorary Global Ambassador of the 2015 Mandela International Film Festival.
Sowetan Live

April 2

Edinburgh pub ginger jibe inspired US film-maker

A new film, Being Ginger, has gone on general release. Its American film-maker says it was inspired by an unkind remark in a Scottish pub.
BBC News

Trailer for Brittany Murphy’s final film released

The trailer for Brittany Murphy’s final film Something Wicked has been released, promising a mix of horror and high drama.
The Independent

Indian director plans film ‘fully shot in Oman’

Award-winning south Indian film director Shyamaprasad, who has excelled simultaneously in Indian and international cinema, is planning to make an Indian movie that will be fully shot in Oman.
Times of Oman

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ to start shooting in Morocco this May

Shooting on Star Wars: Episode VII will start in Morocco next month (May 2014).
NME

April 1

Sachin Tendulkar to act in film based on his life

Directed by the famous Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowrikar, the film will also have big names like Rajnikant, Madhuri Dixit and Nana Patekar in the star cast. 
The Cricket Country

Kickstarter funded film ‘Fool’s Day’ wins best short at Cleveland film festival

After successful showings at the Tribeca, Omaha, and Vail film festivals, Fool’s Day, by Cody Blue Snider, was the audience’s favorite short film and won the audience choice award for best short entry at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Examiner

Film director Sally Potter picks up fellowship honour in Bradford

Director Sally Potter has received this year’s Bradford International Film Award Fellowship. Over the past 30 years, her films have moved between various facets of culture, exploring dance, music, history, gender and performance.
Telegraph and Argus

Dubai’s Gulf Film Festival 2014 postponed

The festival, which was due to run in Dubai from April 9 to April 15, has been postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances” that the organizers say are “out of our control.”
The National

March 31

Harry Potter spin-off ‘will be a film trilogy’

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is to be made into a film trilogy.
BBC News

Justice League film to be announced shortly

Warner Bros’ plans to expand their cinematic universe of DC characters with a slew of new films, set to be announced “in the new future”.
Yahoo! Movies

Woman director’s film about rape survivor wins an Award

Writer-filmmaker Insia Dariwala’s co-directorial documentary ‘17 Not Required Indians’ won special mention at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2013.
Times of India

Trailer for ‘Once’ director John Carney’s new film debuts online

John Carney’s Begin Again, produced by the Weinstein Company, is released on Youtube.
Entertainment.ie

March 28

Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate IFFM

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will inaugurate the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
The Indian Express

Shailene’s film ‘breaking female lead paradigms’

The plot centres on a young girl with an oxygen tank named Hazel, played by Shailene, who falls in love with an athlete after meeting at a cancer support group.
TV3

Myanmar to host the first Youth Film Fest

The Myanmar Youths Union (MYU) will host the first Youth Film Festival in Myanmar in August to mark International Youth Day.
Eleven Myanmar

‘New Girl’ star Jake Johnson cast in ‘Jurassic World’

Johnson joins the growing cast, which currently includes Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, Vincent D’Onofrio, Irrfan Khan, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, and Omar Sy. 
MStars News

March 27

Madonna to Direct New Film

The Queen of Pop is directing a film adaptation of Adé: A Love Story a debut novel by Rebecca Walker. The film is to be produced by Bruce Cohen.
Guardian Liberty Voice

Damian Lewis joins cast of John le Carré film Our Kind of Traitor

Homeland actor cast as member of British intelligence for adaptation which also stars Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris.
The Guardian

Schwarzenegger reveals Terminator has aged in new film

Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised that the new ‘Terminator’ movie will be full of surprises.
Firstpost

Film wages ‘interfaith campaign’ against abuse of Muslim women

A non-profit group founded by a rabbi teamed up with Muslim activists to produce ‘Honor Diaries,’ a documentary spotlighting the mutilation and murder of women and girls in Islamic societies.
Haaretz

March 25

Plane-crash film shelved due to similarities with flight MH370

Production company behind Deep Water says it’s ‘not the right time’ to shoot movie about Beijing-bound flight crashing into sea.
The Guardian

Film on Hercules to be made in Bengali

Director duo Sudeshna Roy-Abhijit Guha now brings Hercules to the contemporary Bengal casting Saswata Chatterjee in the lead.
IBN Live

Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan to co-star in Christmas film

The two Hollywood stars will shoot A Christmas Star to help mark the 25th anniversary of the Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People.
3 News New Zealand

Abhishek Kapoor to Direct ‘Mahabharata’ Film

Director Abhishek Kapoor is planning to bring Indian mythology’s greatest epic “The Mahabharata” to the big screen.
India West

March 21

1917 film shows the cotton mill process in Adams

The footage — a little more than 19 minutes — covers the entire process of the cotton cloth making process from bales to the final fabric. The Adams Historical Society holds the film and has had it digitized.
The Berkshire Eagle

Vietnam film festival to run in US

Several Vietnamese blockbusters will be screened at a Vietnamese film festival in the U.S. next month in an attempt to promote local films to the world.
Tuoitre News

New BBC series chronicles Tamil film comedy

BBC Tamil is embarking on an exploration of film comedy with a new 15-part weekly radio series.
The Hindu

Clover manga will be made into live-action film

It’s been revealed that Toriko Chiya’s ‘Clover’ manga is to receive a live-action film adaptation due out in cinemas on 1 November.
Yahoo! Movies UK

March 20

West Oscar-winner, inspiration to generation of film-makers, dies at 98

Oscar-winning British cinematographer Oswald Morris, who worked with some of the great directors, including John Huston and Stanley Kubrick, has died at the age of 98, at his home in Dorset.
Western Morning News

Film to tell story of the making of Clerks

Clerks was a hit film made on a shoestring budget which made stars of its cast and crew and inspired a generation of indie auteurs.
The Scotsman

New ‘Star Wars’ film to be set 30 years after ‘Return of the Jedi’

The highly anticipated next installment of the “Star Wars” franchise will be set 30 years after “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” Walt Disney Co.’s chief executive officer Bob Iger said on Tuesday at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Reuters

Sofia Coppola in talks to direct live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ film

She is negotiating to helm a live-action adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” the story of a sea creature chafing against her life of looking lovely and swimming aimlessly about.
The Los Angeles Times

March 18

Girls Night Out film to begin shooting in Hull

Hull streets will be transformed to resemble iconic London landmarks when shooting of a feature film begins next month.
Hull Mail

NYIFF to spotlight Gurinder Chadha

The 14th Annual New York Indian Film Festival will put the spotlight on British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha to celebrate the 20th year anniversary of her acclaimed film ‘Bhaji on the beach’.
Hindustan Times

Disney Channel to make first film in the UK

Evermoor, a new mystery adventure, will be made by the production company behind Hollyoaks and The Only Way is Essex.
The Telegraph

Final Brittany Murphy film to be released

Something Wicked will come out four years after actress’s death at the age of 32.
Yahoo! Movies

March 14

Spider-Man origins series will take films into full supervillain territory

Amy Pascal revealed last month that a new film set in the Spider-Man universe is planned every year from here on in, with supervillains such as the Sinister Six and antihero Venom set to take centre-stage.
The Guardian

Cork boy to play Roy Keane in new short-film Rockmount

Craig Keane Harrington from Ballincollig will play the lead role in Rockmount – a film about a young boy trying to make it as a soccer player.
The Irish Post

Scott’s bonding hopes for Stag film

Following on from the success of films like The Hangover and Bridesmaids, the new Irish comedy is about a group of friends who are reluctantly forced to go on a stag party against their will, and end up rediscovering their friendship.
Yahoo! Movies

Two-day film festival to be held in Islamabad

In celebration of Francophonie Week, a two-day Film Festival has been organised at the Marriott Hotel on March 21-22.
The News International

March 13

Smurfs 3 to be fully animated film

The third Smurfs film will be a wholly computer-animated affair that will take the popular cartoon characters in “a completely new fresh direction” says director Kelly Asbury.
BBC UK

‘Of Many’ Film To Premier at Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced that a documentary short about Muslims-Jew relations produced by Chelsea Clinton will hold its world premiere during the festival at the end of April.
The Huffington Post

Kevin Feige discusses solo Black Widow film

Kevin Feige contemplates giving Scarlett Johansson’s character her own movie.
Yahoo! Movies

‘First lady’ of Czech film Vera Chytilova dies at 85

Czech filmmaker Vera Chytilova, dubbed the “first lady” of Czech cinema, died aged 85 in Prague yesterday, the CTK news agency said quoting her family.
The Malay Mail

March 11

Studio cut of Noah ‘featured religious montage and Christian rock song’

Studio executives tested an alternate version of Darren Aronofsky’s forthcoming biblical epic Noah that opened with a montage of religious images and ended with a Christian rock song, it has been revealed.
The Guardian

Shyam Ramsay creates vampire horror film

The Indian horror film pioneer, who has made a whopping 32 horror movies in the past, is primed for the release of his next scare fest Neighbours.
Times of India

The Goldfinch film adaptation from Hunger Games producers in works

A screen adaptation of Donna Tartt’s bestselling novel The Goldfinch is on the way after the producers behind The Hunger Games announced that they have taken up an option on the book.
The Book Seller

Azerbaijani movie joins 42nd Belgrade International Film Festival

The Steppe Man (Cholchu), a movie by Azerbaijani filmmaker Shamil Aliyev, was screened at the 42nd Belgrade International Film Festival – FEST in Serbia.
News Az

March 7

Noah film should be banned says Egypt’s top Islamic body

Egypt’s top Islamic body said on Thursday the big budget Hollywood biblical epic “Noah” starring Russell Crowe was irreligious and should not be screened in the country.
The Telegraph

Kenyan film picked for Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

Film Director, Mark Kaiyare shares his view on the film “Deceit” which has been nominated for Best Online Video on Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Capital News

Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn to Play Warren Jeffs In Lifetime Movie

Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn has been cast as Mormon polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs in the upcoming Lifetime movie Outlaw Prophet based on the Stephen Singular book When Men Become Gods.
Vulture

China’s Huayi Brothers to invest in Jeff Robinov’s new film company

Beijing-based film production company Huayi Brothers Media Corp. plans to invest up to $150 million in a new movie company from Jeff Robinov, the former president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
LA Times

March 6

Gulaab Gang producers challenge court decision to stop film’s release

The Delhi High Court ruled that the movie not be released anywhere in India in its censored or uncensored form till May 8. Gulaab Gang was meant to on March 7. The film is about a group of women fighting social injustices in a rural village community.
NDTV

Tom Cruise director praises UK film crews

Doug Liman, the director of Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi film has spoken of the “extraordinary” experience he had shooting in the UK.
BBC

Zack Snyder defends Jesse Eisenberg’s casting as Lex Luthor

Director of Superman v Batman movie says he ‘knows what these characters need from a mythological standpoint’ and also reveals fresh details of the Batsuit.
The Guardian

Turkey bans ‘pornographic’ Lars Von Trier film ‘Nymphomaniac’

The film is ‘pushing the boundaries of porn’ and unfit for public viewing, Turkey’s film board says.
Haaretz

March 4

Hostility to John Pilger’s film a denial of nation’s brutal past

Utopia receives hardly any mainstream media attention, claims Adam Goodes
Sydney Morning Herald

Feature film shot entirely on an iPhone

Uneasy Lies The Mind was shot using an iPhone 5 and a lens adapter and will be screened at San Jose Cinequest Film Festival
Daily Mail

World Of Women film fair opens in Dubai

International Women’s Day kicks off with the inaugural World Of Women Fair Middle East.
Gulf News

Japanese Film Festival begins at Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The four-day Japanese Film Festival kicked off on Monday at the Rawalpindi Arts Council where four Japanese films with English sub-titles would be showcased.
Daily Times

February 28

Adam Driver cast in Star Wars Episode VII

The 30-year-old actor is allegedly in talks with director JJ Abrams to star as a character in the vein of iconic antagonist Darth Vader.
Express

Allman film shelved after crash

Filmmakers have shelved production on a movie about the life of rock musician Gregg Allman a week after a freight train crashed into the production team.
Belfast Telegraph

President Obama to host White House Student Film Festival

Hosted by President Obama, the festival will showcase student-created films about how technology is used in their classrooms and what role technology will play in education in the future.
Los Angeles Times

Lahore International Film Festival celebrates young film-makers

An on-going festival, which has been showcasing the true potential of young film-makers, is the inaugural Lahore International Film Festival, dated February 25 till February 28.
The Express Tribune

February 27

Terrence Malick reaches settlement over unfinished film Voyage of Time

The film director has nine months to pay a settlement sum with the financiers of Voyage of Time, an epoch-straddling documentary that remains unfinished
The Guardian

Australia bans award-winning Swedish film Children’s Island over child porn concerns

Censors have refused classification for a 30-year-old award-winning Swedish film, in effect banning it, after an application by the Australian Federal Police.
Sydney Morning Herald

Bill seeks 5-year tax break for local film industry

A partylist lawmaker filed a bill in Congress at Manila, Philippines seeking a five year tax-holiday for the local film industry to help it recover and compete internationally.
Phil Star Nation

Northern emergency doctor sponsors film festival in The Pas

Dr. Bernhard Friz joined forces with Coleen Rajotte, director of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, to create Storytellers — The Pas’ First Film Festival of Aboriginal and Northern Peoples.
CBC News Manitoba

February 25

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Making Film About Sega-Nintendo Rivalry

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will follow their apocalyptic 2013 smash This Is the End with Console Wars
Rolling Stone

East Lancashire film-maker lands ‘Emmy’ in USA

Director David Barnes, 35, walked up on stage with the cast and crew of BBC Two programme ‘Same But Different’ to collect the prize at the second International Kids Emmy Awards.
Blackburn Citizen

Award coup led by Thai indie film

It was a coup by independent filmmakers at the Thai film industry’s awards night on Sunday when almost all major prizes went to talents working in the margin, leaving the mainstream heavyweights with just a few consolation trophies.
Bangkok Post

Sir Ben Kingsley cast in James Dean film

The film revolves around a 1955 road trip that James Dean took with Life Magazine photographer Dennis Stock just a few months before his death.
Daily News and Analysis

February 20

The BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival to be rebranded after 26 years as ‘BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

One of the world’s most significant gay film festivals is getting a makeover after 26 years, changing its name to reflect the “increasing diversity of the programme and the people who identify with and embrace it”.
The Independent

Danny Boyle courting biopic of tennis star Billie Jean King

Director reportedly in talks over film about King’s ‘battle of the sexes’ match with male veteran Bobby Riggs
The Guardian

Sunil Bohra to direct a film on Dawood Ibrahim

Sunil Bohra who co-produced films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster, is all set to direct a film revolving around India’s most wanted terrorist.
Times of India

Studio Ghibli season to launch at BFI

The BFI will screen the complete retrospective of Hayao Miyazaki’s film studio for two months from April.
The Telegraph

February 19

Bret Easton Ellis working on film project with Kanye West

The author and screenwriter has revealed a little more about his project with the rapper, saying it’s currently ‘in Kanye land’
The Guardian

Harry Potter, Walking Dead Celebs Release Short Tax Film

The short, entitled Future News was directed by David Yates. Celebrities in the UK worked together on a short film released today in support of the financial transaction tax. The three minute film is designed to influence negotiations.
Forbes

James Cameron gives ‘Avatar’ sequels update

James Cameron has spoken about the progress on his forthcoming Avatar sequels.
NME

Julianne Moore for gay rights movie

Julianne Moore and Zach Galifianakis have joined the cast of gay rights drama Freeheld.
The Belfast Telegraph

February 18

Derek Jarman unseen nightclub film to get London premiere

Almost exactly 20 years after his death, a previously unseen film by Derek Jarman has come to light, shot inside a gay nightclub in east London, and will be premiered next month.
The Guardian

Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken: clip offers first look at Louis Zamperini film

The first glimpse of Angelina Jolie’s new directing project, Unbroken, has surfaced online, taking advantage of the interest in the winter Olympics by highlighting the athletic achievements of its real-life subject.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Colin Baker to play lead in Finding Richard

Doctor Who star Colin Baker is to play the lead in a film featuring the discovery of the remains of King Richard III.
Leicester Mercury

A Malayali film is being made in Oman

Scripted by noted writer and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winner C. V. Balakrishnan and directed by Madhu Kaithapuram, winner of India’s National Film Award, the title of the movie is Velli Vechathi
Times of Oman

February 14

Banned: After Wolf Of Wall Street,The Kenya Film Classification Board Outlaws A Number Of Films

After Wolf of Wall Street, the Kenya Film commission has outlawed a number of films. These are films that are related to the late Sheikh Aboud Rogo contentious Muslim cleric .Anyone found with these movies might spend sometime in the can.
Ghafla

Edinburgh cartoon apocalypse film seeks funding

Described as “Cloverfield meets Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, the short animation follows university students John and Michael after the arrival of the colourful monsters – or toons.
Edinburgh News

World’s Oldest Holocaust Survivor Stars in Oscar-Nominated Film

In her 110 years, Alice Herz-Sommer has been an accomplished concert pianist and teacher, a wife and mother — and a prisoner in Theresienstadt. Now she is the star of an Oscar-nominated documentary showing her indomitable optimism, cheerfulness and vitality despite all the upheavals and horrors she faced in the 20th century.
Jewish Press

Comedian Greg Fleet gets serious with zombie film

Greg Fleet is to star in a low-budget Australian zombie film. Me And My Mates vs The Zombie Apocalypse wrapped filming on Friday in the Australian capital, Canberra, and is now in post-production.
The Canberra Times

February 13

Natalie Portman’s directorial debut criticised by orthodox Israeli protesters

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman has been accused of mounting a “foreign invasion” by protesters from Israel’s ultra-orthodox community after arriving in Jerusalem to shoot her directorial debut, reports the Times of Israel.
The Guardian

Kiran Rao to hold special screening of documentary film ‘Gulabi Gang’

A special screening of documentary film titled ‘Gulabi Gang’, directed by Nishtha Jain, will be held for many producers and directors in Mumbai such as Raj Kumar Hirani, Gauri Shinde, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Prasoon Joshi.
The Indian Express

POYKPAC creates movie made out of famous film titles

Comedy troupe POYKPAC have created a short film about a couple breaking up using only the titles of famous movies as its script, and unbelievably it makes perfect sense.
The Independent

Sai Bennett signs up for Amanda Knox film

Sai Bennett, the Mr Selfridge actress, will appear in The Face of An Angel, the film inspired by the murder of Meredith Kercher.
The Telegraph

February 11

Minecraft-makers cancel film inspired by game

Minecraft-maker Mojang has stepped in to prevent the making of a film set in the game’s block-built world.
BBC UK

Looking for lost boys: Hollywood bosses launch search for a Peter Pan

Warner Bros puts out call across UK for boys to star in new movie about JM Barrie character’s origins.
Guardian

Gabriel Axel, Ocar-winning Danish film director, dies at 95

Gabriel Axel, who as director of “Babette’s Feast” became the first Dane to win an Oscar for best foreign film, died Feb. 9. He was 95.
The Washington Post

Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan in Sooraj Barjatya’s next film

Mumbai Actress Sonam Kapoor is likely to reunite with superstar Salman Khan for Sooraj Barjatya’s upcoming film after her debut ‘Saawariya’.
Arab News

February 7

It’s official: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson join ‘Pitch Perfect 2′

Paramount announced Thursday afternoon that the two actresses will return for Pitch Perfect 2.
The Los Angeles Times

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” world premiere kicks off Berlin Film Festival

The 64th Berlin Film Festival is under way in the German capital. Kicking off the 11-day event is the world premiere of US director West Anderson’s caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Deutsche Welle

Sir Elton to produce Joseph film

Sir Elton John is making the film version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Belfast Telegraph

‘Wadjda,’ Saudi Arabia’s First Female-Directed Film, Opens Doors

Hosted at a foreign embassy in Riyadh on a warm night in early June, the premiere was an understated affair. Local media was not invited to the screening due to fears that early reviews could cause a backlash against the film.
Wall Street Journal

February 6

Sequel to ‘Jurassic Park’ to film in New Orleans

Universal Pictures’ long-awaited “Jurassic Park” sequel, “Jurassic World,” will shoot in New Orleans for 11 weeks starting June 2.
Knoe

12 Years A Slave becomes the first film with nudity approved to distribute in India

While The Wolf of Wall Street is setting records for the outrageous number of ‘F’ bombs it employs, another Best Picture contender has broken a different kind of record. 12 Years A Slave became the first film with nudity approved to distribute in India.
Bustle

Film chronicles Vermont’s ‘full-blown’ drug crisis

The film, a fly-on-the-wall look at prescription-drug abuse, focuses on Fred Holmes, a retired pediatrician who willed himself into becoming an expert in treating opiate addiction after discovering many of his teenaged patients were hooked on painkillers.
The Globe and Mail

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to make comeback in Mani Ratnam film

The actress took a break from films following the birth of daughter Aaradhya two years ago.
India Today

February 4

Philip Seymour Hoffman: stars pay tribute at Critics’ Circle awards

The British film industry paid tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman at the London Critics’ Circle awards last night, with Steve Coogan and Naomie Harris among the stars lining up to celebrate the work of the late Oscar winner.
The Guardian

British film-making sees decline

The number of British films being made has declined in the past few years, according to new figures.
BBC News

‘Lego Movie’ built to be a better toy film

Since the popularity of the “Transformers” franchise, Hollywood has increasingly turned to Hasbro toys like G.I. Joe and Battleship to capitalize on their familiar brands.
News Sentinel

Brazilian film director Coutinho killed in Rio

Leading Brazilian film director Eduardo Coutinho was killed Sunday in an attack at his Rio de Janeiro home, local television reported. Initial reports suggested that the 80-year-old Coutinho’s son Daniel, who suffers from mental illness, stabbed his father to death.
The Nation

January 31

Abhay Deol to put entire film on Facebook

In a first in Bollywood, actor Abhay Deol, 37, and the co-producers of his next film have decided to release their entire film on the social media site, Facebook (on the same day as its India release) However, there’s a catch- only international audiences will get to view the film.
Hindustan Times

£14m plan for two new film studios in Northern Ireland

Two new studios proposed for the Titanic Quarter could put Belfast on the global map of leading locations for film production.
Belfast Telegraph

Baahubali to be most expensive VFX Film

S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film, Baahubali, becomes the highest spender of VFX in Indian cinema, as he will be spending over Rs. 85 crores for the VFX in the film. Also, since Baahubali is a period action drama, it boasts of a never-before-heard budget to create a visual extravaganza.
Bollywood Hungama

Film on Sarai Sierra murder goes to Italy    

U.S. tourist Sarai Sierra, who was murdered in Istanbul last year, has inspired Turkish director Mehmet Bükülmez to make a film about it. 
Hurriyet Daily News

 

January 30

Tom Sherak’s passing is a loss to L.A.’s film industry

The death of Tom Sherak, the respected Hollywood executive and recently appointed film czar for Los Angeles, is a blow to the city’s film industry.
The Los Angeles Times

Mumbai International Film Festival to start on February 3 at NCPA

In its 13th edition, the festival will see the introduction of new awards for producer, cinematographer, editor, sound-recordist and animator.
Bollywood Life

Lady Chatterley film brings Nottinghamshire tourism hopes

Tourism bosses say they will jump at the chance to cash in if a new movie adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is filmed in Notts.
The Nottinham Post

Film Festival celebrates countdown to Tour de France

Big screen showings of classic cycling films will be held at the University of Sheffield as part of the official 100-day countdown to the Tour de France’s Grand Départ.
University of Sheffield News

January 29

Oculus Rift to change the way we watch film

New virtual reality headset that straps over user’s face will not only allow viewers to watch films anywhere but also allow 3D interaction with movies. The first headsets were premiered for filmmakers at Sundance.
Wired

Trailer released for Sly Cooper Movie

The orphaned raccoon thief, protagonist of the recent Thieves in Time PlayStation 3 game will star in his own origins story, helmed by TMNT director Kevin Munroe.
Gamespot

Gatsby dominates AACTAs

Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby won every award for which it was nominated at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts luncheon in Sydney, including production design, costuming and cinematography.
SBS

Akkineni Nageshwara Rao dubbed for his film from death bed

90 year old actor Rao, who lost his battle with cancer on the 22^nd of January, did all his dubbing for new film Manam from his sick bed in his home.
Times of India   

January 28

Cats improve every film they are in

“The film doesn’t really have a plot,” Joel Coen said of Inside Llewyn Davis. “That concerned us at one point; that’s why we threw the cat in.” Coen and his brother Ethan have learnt one of the truisms of the seventh art - that there are few films that are not improved by the presence of a cat.
The Telegraph

Helen Mirren to receive Bafta fellowship

Oscar-winning actor claims news of award as the ‘greatest professional honour I can imagine’
The Guardian

Film puts Internet icon, mission in new focus

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival featured the new documentary ‘The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz’
Boston Globe

American Black Film Festival to Celebrate Black Cinema with Hollywood Awards

The event, which recognizes actors and film producers of African descent in the motion picture industry, is set to take place Feb 19
The Huffington Post

January 27

Lifetime Award for Jackie Weaver

Jackie Weaver has been named as the 39^th recipient of the Raymond Longford Award for her 52 year career. The lifetime achievement award is Australia’s highest accolade.
Yahoo News

Salman Khan takes blame for Jai Ho failure

The star has shouldered the blame for his latest flick’s poor box office performance saying that he was happy with the product but that it was clearly the hero’s fault if audiences did not flock to theatres.
India Today

Stephen Fry to play British PM in 24

2014 will see the actor as the British head of state in the returning hit series.
BBC News

Neill Blomkamp rumoured for Halo TV series

The District 9 is rumoured to be joining Microsofts upcoming series which will be produced by Stephen Spielberg. Blomkamp had previously said he would never work on Halo again after the first attempt fell through.
Scified

January 23

Glasgow film festival: Wes Anderson film opens 10th GFF

The UK Premiere of Wes Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ will open this year’s Glasgow Film Festival, it has been announced.
BBC News

Amish Tripathi’s Immortals of Meluha to be made into a Hollywood film

Author Amish Tripathi, who created waves in Indian publishing with a $1 million book contract, has made a deal with CAA (Creative Artist’s Agency) to make an adaptation of the Indian novel.
Firstpost

50 Shades of grey to be less explicit, producer confirms

Fans of big budget soft core pornography are to be disappointed by the 50 Shades of Grey movie, which producer Michael De Luca has confirmed will ‘obviously’ be less explicit than the book.
The Independent

Telugu Film Industry goes into mourning

Thousands of fans, actors, directors, producers and others from all walks of life thronged the Annapurna Studios where the body of thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao was kept to enable people to pay homage.
DNA

January 22

Jamaican bobsleigh team hit Sundance looking for funding

Jamaica’s bobsleigh team have arrived in Sundance looking to raise the rest of the £50,000 they need to travel to Sochi for the Winter Olympics.
Metro

Bradley Cooper to play Elephant Man on stage

The actor has reportedly landed the lead role in the Broadway revival of the play which won a Tony in in 1979 and inspired David Lynch.
MTV News

Google Glass wearer ejected from cinema

American cinema chain AMC has branded Google Glass use inappropriate for cinema goers. The audience member was taken out of a screening of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit by Homeland Security and questioned for 3.5 hours.
International Business Times

Act of Killing outcry in China

Anger is building on the Chinese mainland after the little-known events of the 1965-66 Indonesian anti-communist purge were revealed by the doc. Despite no plans for official release the film has been seen by thousands of bloggers and even state mouthpiece People’s Daily ran a report on it.
South China Morning Post

January 21

Knesset producing film to fight anti-circumcision laws

The Knesset is producing a short pro-circumcision documentary, to be filmed this week and shown in a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe next week.
The Jerusalem Post

Harvey Weinstein vows to stop making films that glorify gun violence

The producer, whose next film ‘The Senator’s Wife’ is an anti-gun lobby drama, says he will no longer make ‘crazy’ action movies
The Guardian

Bond scriptwriter says new films will “build on ‘Skyfall’”

Logan co-wrote Skyfall and is on board to help pen the 24th and 25th installments in the spy franchise.
NME

Dove Short Film to debut at 2014 Sundance Film Festival

Dove is debuting at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on Monday a short film that explores how social media the way we perceive beauty.
Mashable

January 18

Pakistan film industry ‘comes of age’ with rise of multiplexes

A boost to the number of Pakistan’s multi-screen cinemas is proving beneficial to the country’s film industry.
BBC News Asia

Paramount becomes first studio to go all-in on digital

Wolf of Wall Street reportedly distributed in digital-only, believed to be the first time a major studio has not used film at all for a cinematic release.
Tech Radar

VKontacte signs first film content deal

Russian social network VKontacte is now offering users the opportunity to stream licensed films.  In the second half of 2013 the site launched a major effort to legalize its emdia content after a series of scandals.
Russia Behind the Headlines

Australia India Film Fund set up

The founders of the new fund have raised millions of dollars to produces film and television they say will work as soft diplomacy. Anupam Sharma, the fund’s overseer, hopes to replicate the appeal of India-centric stories from other countries, like Bend It Like Beckham.
SBS

January 20

Disney Grandniece backs Meryl Streep on Walt’s racism and sexism

Abigail Disney, grandniece of Walt, has backed up Meryl Streep following the actor’s recent comments about Walt Disney where she referred to him as a “gender bigot” and a member of an anti-Semitic lobbying organisation.
The Guardian

MCAT film to show dangers of drug and impact of addiction

Director Peter Watkins-Hughes’s latest drama is tackling the dangers of the drug mephedrone in Wales and the devastating effect addiction can have on families.
BBC News

Bollywood’s top film awards to be presented in Florida

The 15th International Indian Film Academy Awards, the Oscars of Bollywood’s yearly $7.8 billion industry, will be presented in the United States for the first time this year, organizers of the event said on Wednesday.
Stabroek News

Kenya Film Board bans Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest movie ‘Wolf of Wall Street’

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) had ordered that the movie Wolf of Wall Street should not be sold, exhibited or distributed in Kenya. KFCB is the body that has been tasked with film content regulation to ensure they conform to the national values.
Standard Digital

January 16

Russian Culture Minister Moots Quota for Foreign Movies

Russia’s culture minister Vladimir Medinsky is considering introducing a cap on the number of movies imported to the country each year, saying that “without it, it is impossible to help the Russian film sector.”
The Guardian

Revealing the truth behind ‘Oscar Appeal’ movies

After analysing 25 years’ worth of data on mainstream cinema, two researchers have discovered that filmmakers that are likely to appeal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences face the same risk-and-reward structure as lobbyists who contribute to political candidates as elections are near.
Zee News

Breakfast at Tiffany’s producer Richard Shepherd dies

Richard Shepherd, the producer of classic Hollywood movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, has died aged 86 at his home in Los Angeles. Shepherd spent six decades in the film business, producing a run of films including the 1961 feature starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.
BBC News

Bryan Cranston stars in Production Assistant’s Short Film, ‘Writer’s Block’

During a break from filming new movie “Cold Comes the Night”, Bryan Cranston put together a contest challenging production assistants to come up with their own scripts. The actor then offered to star in a script of his choosing if there was one he liked.
The Huffington Post

January 15

Kristen Stewart terrified by upcoming role in Equals

The actress is set to star in Drake Doremus’ adaptation of 1984, written by Nathan Parker (Moon). In a recent interview she said that though the story was simple, the film was “overtly ambitious”.
Huffington Post

Toronto Film Festival movies now on Vimeo

Vimeo has made 13 films, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, available on its on-demand platform. Viewers can purchase the films directly from the site and watch on desktop, TV or smartphone.
The Drum

Gavin and Stacey could return for film

Co-creator of hit show Gavin and Stacey, Ruth Jones, has hinted that there may be a film in the works. Jones said she would “definitely” work with James Corden again.
BBC Newsbeat

On-Location production in LA drops significantly

A report by Film L.A. which processes film permits in LA City and County, has blamed a lack of financial incentives for productions increasingly moving to other states. The decline is also blamed for the loss of 4,500 permanent jobs.
South California Public Radio

January 14

Dubai: Censored ‘Wolf’ movie angers film buffs

Filmgoers in the United Arab Emirates have been shown a heavily edited version of The Wolf of Wall Street, which left the story “incomprehensible.” Around 45 minutes of Scorcese’s film was removed - predominantly scenes depicting sex and drug-taking- and dialogue was muted to mask profanity.
BBC News

Film Ratings to be toughened up amid fears over the sexualisation of girls

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) will launch a crackdown on sexual content and bad language in films, particularly in movies rated 12A, 12 and 15. The BBFC says will give greater weight to the “theme and tone” rather than simply specific scenes and details on screen.
The Telegraph

Marvel Eyeing Johnny Depp for ‘Dr.Strange’

Johnny Depp took a meeting with Marvel to discuss playing Doctor Strange in a Phase Three film likely to be released in 2016. If Depp did decide to play the role, it would impact what’s happening in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which currently has a fifth installment set for release in roughly the same time frame. 
The Latino Review

Falmouth Film nominated for BAFTA

A short film made by a local university lecturer and shot on location in and around Falmouth has been nominated for a Bafta. Created on a budget of just £1000 and shot over three days, the film crew featured photography and animation lecturers as well as students.
The Cornishman

January 13

Kurzel to film Macbeth in Elstead

The Snowtown director plans to use the Hankley Common dropping zone to film his new film with Michael Fassbender. The WW2 training site has already been used in numerous Bond films, including Die Another Day and Skyfall.
Getsurrey.co.uk

Gyllenhaal and Brolin arrive in Nepal

Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin have arrived in Nepal to start filming an adaptation of climbing-Everest bestseller Into Thin Air. Baltasar Kormakur, director of Two Guns, is helming the project.
Financial Express  

Richard Dreyfuss to attend Dublin film festival

The Oscar-winning star of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind will attend this Years Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in February. Terry Gilliam will also attend and both men will receive Volta Awards for lifetime achievements.
Irish Times 

Controversy over screening of Scorsese’s Christ film in cathedral

Wells Cathedral in Bath has been attacked for its decision to allow the Bath Film festival to screen The Last Temptation of Christ in its nave. The screening was to accompany a recent screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc in Bath Abbey.
Bath Chronicle

 

January 10

Disney reveals new animated film heroine Moana

Slated for a 2018 release, new title will follow the adventures of a sea voyaging enthusiast
Licensing.biz

Iranian short film gains Mumbai Asian festival’s top prize

Daryoush Qazvani’s short film Hannaneh was chosen as the festival’s best film in the Thursday night closing ceremony of the Third Eye Festival.
Irna

Ben Kingsley Is Returning To The Screen As The Mandarin In New Marvel Short ‘All Hail the King’

The 14 minute short will be released with the Thor: The Dark Wold Blu-Ray in February. Drew Pearce, who wrote the screenplay for Iron Man 3, directed the short film.
American Live Wire

Hedge fund manager sues tax advisers over soured film bet

The founder of UK hedge fund Sloane Robinson is suing his former tax advisers of over 20 years for millions of pounds in damages after an investment in a film company went sour.
Financial News

 

January 9

Popular Chinese microfilm turned into a movie

A Chinese online microfilm, “Old Boys,” which was watched by tens of millions and helped to establish the genre here, is being made into a feature-length movie.
News-Sentinel.com

Sports film festival launched

The International Festival of Sports Movies Krasnogorski will take place from March 28 to April 3 in Moscow. The festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow
SpyGhana

Bryan Singer ‘Negotiating To Direct’ Next ‘X-Men’ Movie

In only a few short months, fans will see Bryan Singer return to the director’s chair of an “X-Men” movie for the first time since 2003’s “X2: X-Men United.
MTV News

Vietnam’s first cartoon-only cinema opens

Vietnam’s first cartoon-only cinema opened on January 9 in a state-of-the-art facility located in the downtown of capital Hanoi.
VietNamNet

January 8

NY Film Critics apologize for heckling of McQueen

Hollywood’s award season, never known for civility, is roiling from a heckling incident between 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and film critic Armond White.
Greenville Online

Movie on boy’s Holocaust fate premieres in Poland

A stirring movie by German Oscar-winning director Pepe Danquart about a Jewish boy struggling to survive the Holocaust is having its world premiere in Warsaw on Wednesday.
CentreDaily.com

Cineplex opens new adults-only VIP theatres

When the new five-auditorium, adults-only 20,000-square-foot VIP section opens at the Cineplex Odeon Queensway theatre complex Jan. 17, moviegoers will have more choices than just what to watch.
TheSpec.com

Palm Springs festival a showcase for Latin films

Palm Springs International Film Festival: The 21 Spanish- and Portuguese-language films in this year’s festival reflect a timely renaissance in Latin cinema. Anticipated titles include ‘Heli’ and ‘Anina.’
LA Times

January 7

Ice Cube’s NWA film spotlights “the world’s most dangerous group”

Straight Outta Compton won’t focus on the bands music.
Newstalk

Will Smith eulogises James Avery on Facebook

Actor pays tribute to his ‘French Prince of Bel-Air’ co-star.
Gulf News

Michael Bay blames technical hitch for onstage meltdown

Director Michael Bay has blamed a technical mishap for prompting his walkout at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Starpulse

New hints of an X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover movie

Could an X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover movie be in the offing? It’s certainly being considered, a new report claims…
Den of Geek

 

January 6

Egyptian debut director Hany Fawzy fears for film on homosexuality

Screenwriter of Family Secrets says censors’ 13 changes turn protagonist’s affair with a man into a romance-free friendship.
The Guardian

Actor Uday Kiran found dead, was ‘depressed’ over not getting roles

Apparently depressed over not getting films for nearly one year, young Telugu actor Uday Kiran committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday night, police said Monday. The 33-year-old, who acted in 19 films includingthree Tamil movies
Hindustan Times

Saunders will write Ab Fab movie

January 3

McQueen Slams Hollywood For ‘Ignoring Slavery’

The British director of 12 Years A Slave has criticised Hollywood for avoiding slavery as a subject matter for movies.
Sky News

Croydon cinema group launches January film season

A cinema group has launched its January season of films.
Croydon Guardian

Farooque Sheikh’s last film Club 60 releases again

PVR Cinemas has decided to pay tribute to the late actor in a rather heart warming gesture.
Bollywood Life

The First ‘Veronica Mars’ Movie Trailer After $5 Million Kickstarter Campaign

Kristen Bell is back as “Veronica Mars” in the first full trailer for the one-time TV show’s new feature-length film.
Business Insider

January 2

Mannerheim film’s losses in the millions

The beleaguered Finnish mega-production Mannerheim has incurred debts of nearly seven million euros, as revealed by the bankrupt’s estate administration. Dozens of creditors await money from Liberty Production, the company set up for the film.
Yle Uutiset

The Wolf of Wall Street criticised for ‘glorifying psychopathic behaviour’

Christina McDowell, daughter of a business associate of Jordan Belfort, accuses Martin Scorsese of glamorising financial fraud.
The Guardian

Sandra Bullock to make comedy film

Her role as Annie Johnson in the 1959 film Imitation of Life led to an Oscar nomination — just the fifth at that time for a black actor or actress. Moore was 99 when she died on Wednesday.
Nation & World News

 

December 20

Thangameengal, Haridas win top laurels at CIFF

Tamil films Thangameengal and Haridas on Thursday won the best film and the second-best film awards in the competition section of the 11th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF).
Hindustan Times

Ben Stiller says Zoolander 2 is “on hold”.

The actor-and-director has been planning a sequel to his hit 2001 male model comedy for several years, but he admits the film has hit a roadblock as he wants the film to feel current.
Shortlist

The Expendables 3 new stellar lineup introduced in teaser

Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross and his old crew line up for duty along with his younger generation of mercenaries.
PanArmenian

Quentin Tarantino: No plans for Kill Bill 3

Quentin Tarantino claims he has no intention of revisiting the ‘Kill Bill’ series despite previous suggestions he would do a follow-up.
Contact Music

 

December 19

Paul Rudd to play Ant-Man in new film

Paul Rudd will star as Ant-Man, the latest Marvel comic book hero to get the big screen treatment.
BBC

Shia LaBeouf could face legal action for lifting idea

There may be legal ramifications for Shia LaBeouf after he acknowledged borrowing from another artist’s work without giving proper credit.
Seattlepi.com

2013: The best Bollywood stories of the year

IBNLive examines the most creative Bollywood films of 2013
IBNLive

The Wolf of Wall Street’s star Leonardo DiCaprio chased Scorsese to direct warped comedy

Usually, Martin Scorsese pursues Leonardo DiCaprio to do a movie. Roles were reversed for The Wolf of Wall Street when DiCaprio hunted down Scorsese.
The Calgary Herald

 

December 18

Library of Congress announces 2013 National Film Registry selections

The Library of Congress have announced the addition of 25 films to its National Film Registry, a growing archive of American motion pictures earmarked for preservation.
The Washington Post

Hollywood stars sign petition against Iceland film cuts

A number of renowned Hollywood filmmakers including Terence Malick, Darren Aronofsky and Clint Eastwood have signed a petition against the Icelandic government’s proposed 40 per cent cuts on the Icelandic Film Fund.
Ice News

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner to star opposite Ray Liotta in new film

Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in ‘Game of Thrones’, is to appear in the film ‘Alone’ with Ray Liotta.
The Telegraph

Tarantino: I wanted to quit movies

Quentin Tarantino has revealed that he once considered quitting the movie-making business.
The Independent

 

December 17

Thompson to narrate Reitman’s film

Emma Thompson has joined the cast of Jason Reitman’s next film, Men, Women And Children.
Yahoo

Dave Sitek offers to provide music for next James Bond film

TV on The Radio producer also urges producers to cast Idris Elba in lead role
NME

1940s film noir actress Audrey Totter dies at 95

Audrey Totter, a blond leading lady of 1940s film noir who starred as a tough-talking dame in “Lady in the Lake,” dies at 95.
LA Times

Matthew Perry returning to TV in The Odd Couple revamp

The actor, who has starred in a series of flops following his days on Friends, is hoping his new role as grumpy Oscar Madison will be another hit.
Daily Express

 

December 16

Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine dies aged 96

The star of Hitchcock’s Rebecca and Suspicion, sister of Olivia de Havilland, died in her sleep at home in California
BBC

Emilia Clarke cast in Terminator reboot

The Game Of Thrones actress has been cast as Sarah Connor - the part originally played by Linda Hamilton - after impressing film bosses with her audition.
Belfast Telegraph

People who don’t know what Mandela looked like were responsible for 8% of tweets about his death

A number of users confused Nelson Mandela and Morgan Freeman, likely due to Freeman’s appearance as him in rugby film Invictus.
The Guardian

Mark Millar’s ‘Starlight’ Heads to FOX

The studio will adapt the Kick-Ass creator’s upcoming superhero miniseries
Latino Review

 

December 13

Warner Bros reveals Joe Wright’s Peter Pan film Pan will be released in 2015 opposite Ted 2

Warner Bros have revealed that Pan will roll out in cinemas in June 2015.
Metro

Actor Will Ferrell fails to see the funny side after Kanye West’s aggro on set of new Anchorman film

The rapper has a seconds-long cameo in Anchorman 2 but in an interview Ferrell revealed West declined to leave the set after filming his bit.
The Daily Record

James Bond’s average alcohol consumption was ‘92 units per week’

James Bond consumed four times the recommended weekly alcohol limit while serving his country putting him at risk of liver disease and impotence, researchers find.
The Telegraph

22 films to be screened at Kashmir International Film Festival

The valley will host its first film festival in more than 23 years.
Indian Express

 

December 12

Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises Wins San Diego Film Critics Society Award

Film previously won critic prizes in Boston, New York.
Anime News Network

Sandra Bullock to star in George Clooney-produced film?

Sandra Bullock is reportedly teaming up with her ‘Gravity’ co-star George Clooney again as the actress is in early talks to star in Clooney-produced ‘Our Brand Is Crisis’.
Business Standard

Jackson swings towards Tarzan film?

Samuel L Jackson is in talks to star in the Tarzan reboot.
Belfast Telegraph

Weinstein brothers sue Time Warner over ‘Hobbit’ films

Movie producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein have sued Time Warner Inc for at least $75 million over its decision to divide the screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Hobbit” into three parts.
Reuters

 

December 11

Lost Peter Sellers films to be screened at festival

Two “lost” films starring actor Peter Sellers are to be shown in public for the first time in more than 50 years.
BBC News

Sainsbury’s Christmas film garners 800,000 views

Sainsbury’s festive ad campaign to promote its feature film Christmas In A Day has been viewed by 800,000 people since it was posted to YouTube last Friday (29 November).
Marketing Week

‘Fast And Furious 7’ Film: Justin Bieber to Replace Paul Walker?

There are speculations that the “Baby” singer can become the part of the racing car franchise.
International Business Times

Pakistani court stops airing of Indian, foreign films on TV

A Pakistani court has stopped the screening of foreign films, serials and television shows, especially Indian content, on the country’s TV channels, triggering panic and outrage among exhibitors and viewers.
The Hindu

 

December 10

Home Alone voted the number one Christmas film of all time

Home Alone was today voted the number one Christmas film of all time in a poll conducted by TalkTalk TV.
South West News Service

Dwarf-Tossing, Three-Way with Teen Employee Never Happened, Says Real “Wolf of Wall Street” Exec

According to the ex-president of the firm depicted in the bestselling memoir and new film, “the book…is a distant relative of the truth, and the film is a distant relative of the book.”
Mother Jones

Adam Sandler Tops Forbes’ 2013 List Of The Most Overpaid Actors

The Happy Gilmore star gave less return on his wage than any other actor on the list.
Forbes

Eleanor Parker Dead: ‘Sound Of Music’ Actress Dies At 91

Eleanor Parker, who was nominated for Academy Awards three times for her portrayals of strong-willed women and played a scheming baroness in “The Sound of Music,” has died at 91.
The Huffington Post

 

December 9

Edouard Molinaro, French Film Director, Dies at 85

Edouard Molinaro, who received an Oscar nomination for directing the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles, which was remade in the United States as The Birdcage and as a Broadway musical, died on Saturday in Paris.
The New York Times

Grown Ups 2 tops list of 2013’s worst films

Grown Ups 2, starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, has beaten The Host and Salinger to be named worst film of 2013 by Time Magazine.
Time

Disney gets right to Indiana Jones

Disney has bought the rights to all future Indiana Jones movies.
The Irish Independent

Paul Walker fans gather at crash site for tribute

5,000 fans, friends and car enthusiasts attend a rally at site where Fast & Furious actor was killed in crash.
The Guardian

 

 

December 6

2 Guns film sequel in the pipeline

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg could be back in a sequel to their action film 2 Guns.
Belfast Telegraph

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou faces $164 million lawsuit for having too many children

Famed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou is being sued by two lawyers for breaking China’s one-child policy, in what they are calling a protest against rich people flouting the rules.
680 News

Filming in Medina underway for a new Robert Englund horror film

Some of the folks who made a Katie Holmes movie in Cleveland this summer thought Ohio was so nice, they came back
Ohio.com

‘X-Men Apocalypse’: Bryan Singer announces 2016 mutant sequel

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” director Bryan Singer appears to have announced, via Twitter, that another installment in the mutant franchise, “X-Men Apocalypse,” is due for release in 2016.
LA Times

 

December 5

Vast majority of Hollywood silent films lost forever, study confirms

Studios failed to archive early films properly leading to huge losses due to fire and deterioration.
The Guardian

Going postal: Ronan Keating to voice Postman Pat in new movie

Boyzone star Ronan Keating has been added to the cast of Postman Pat: The Movie - playing the singing voice of the cheery postie.
Independent.ie

Gal Gadot cast as Wonder Woman for blockbuster Batman and Superman film

Israel-born actress Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.’ superhero team-up film with Batman and Superman.
Globe and Mail

Navi Mumbai set to host its first international film fest

Navi Mumbai, known as the satellite city to Mumbai, is set to host its first ever Film Festival named Navi Mumbai International Film Festival (NMIFF).
Vancouverdesi.com

 

December 2

Sin City TV series to follow next movie

Sin City, The Mist and Scream are all heading to the small screen, courtesy of The Weinstein Company…
Den of Geek

Artist paid £25 for a box of movie stars photographs that could be worth THOUSANDS

A man who paid £25 for two dusty files of photos of old movie stars has been told they could be worth thousands.
SWNS

Television actor Trishalawho essayed Pinky’s role in the Hindi serial ‘Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki’ and has done Marathi serials like ‘Ya Gojirwanya Gharat’, ‘Don Kinaare Doghi Aapan’ and ‘Bandh Reshmache’ has landed her first Marathi film.
Times of India

Director turns to crowdfunding to make Japanese anti-nuclear film

Japanese film director Takafumi Ota had a problem. He needed studio financing for a film that was harshly critical of the nuclear industry in the aftermath of Fukushima, but no one was interested in funding his project the traditional way.
Arab News

Novemeber 28

Film studios looking to social media to help predict hits

With the traditional system for forecasting hits, known as “tracking,” under fire, the film industry is increasingly turning to social media and other online signposts to help figure out what will resonate with audiences.
New York Post

Arya-Santhanam-Rajesh Teaming up for New Film, Likely to Commence by June 2014

The successful combo of Arya-Santhanam-Rajesh is teaming up once again for a new film.
International Business Times

Forbes worst performing films of 2013

Among the top 10 box office turkeys of 2013 are a few Australian connections.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Report warns of state of Scottish film industry

The fragile state of Scotland’s film industry has been laid bare in a damning new report leaked to The Scotsman.
The Scotsman

 

November 27

Why are women always being kidnapped in films?

Penelope Cruz in The Counsellor is the latest in a long line of heroines who exist only to be kidnapped and make the man who loves her feel bad.
The Telegraph

Maltese Falcon sells for $4m at auction

A statuette of a bird featured in the classic 1941 film The Maltese Falcon has sold for over $4 million (£2.5 million) at auction in New York.
The Independent

Arjun Kapoor begins preparation for ‘Okkadu’ remake

‘Ishaqzaade’ actor Arjun Kapoor, who had a decent year as far as his films are concerned, is geared up for a more eventful 2014.
Times of India

Doctor Who enters UK film top three

Cinema screenings of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode made it the third biggest draw at the UK box office over the weekend.
BBC News

 

November 26

Independent cinema on the rise in India

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s Pixar studio is eliminating jobs after deciding to delay next year’s theatrical release “The Good Dinosaur.”
Bloomberg

November 25

Kashmir University students disrupt shooting of Vishal Bhardwaj film

Film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj was forced to pack up after a group of Kashmir University students disrupted shooting of a sequence of a fidayeen attack for his upcoming movie Haider.
The Hindu

DGA board approves film and TV contract

The national board of the Directors Guild of America on Saturday voted in favor of a new three-year film and TV contract that includes proposed increases in wages, residuals and significant new pay terms for work in new media.
Los Angeles Times

Richard Attenborough’s dream of film about first black flying ace is saved

IT WAS to be the swan song of Lord Richard Attenborough’s illustrious directing career that began in 1969 with the satirical musical Oh, What A Lovely War! and which produced such Oscar-winning classics as Young Winston, Gandhi and Cry Freedom.
Express

JRR Tolkien film biopic in the pipeline

Fox Searchlight, which was behind last year’s Hitchcock film, is developing a biopic about Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.
BBC News

 

November 22

Harry Potter star to play ‘Amanda Knox’ character in new movie

Actress Genevieve Gaunt, who appeared as Pansy Parkinson, appears as Miss Knox in forthcoming film based on the murder of Meredith Kercher.
The Telegraph

Star power sometimes overshadows movie content: Anil Sharma

Director Anil Sharma feels that stars set the cash registers ringing at the box office but sometimes a film’s content gets eclipsed by them.
Indian Express

Ken Loach backs Nuneaton Ritz cinema restoration plan

Acclaimed director Ken Loach has backed £5m plans to restore a Grade II listed art deco cinema in Nuneaton.
BBC News

Pakistan restricts screening of films from India

The move to ban the popular Bollywood productions, which dwarf the number of Pakistani films produced, isn’t sitting well with moviegoers.
The L.A Times

November 21

De Niro in familiar territory as he links up with old friends

He may be one of cinema’s authentic acting legends but Robert De Niro also has a reputation for being notoriously reticent with the press.
Herald Scotland

I am itching to direct a film: Sunny Deol

Bollywood star Sunny Deol says he is yearning to go behind the camera again, but his dream would take a year or two to take off.
India Today

Irish Film Festival opens in London

Dramas, documentaries, animations, comedies and real-life inspirational tales to be screened over five days.
The Irish Times

New film commissioner announced

A unit still photographer who has worked on the sets of movies, including “Legally Blonde,” “Meet the Fockers” and “Remember the Titans,” and is a former National Football League kicker, has been named the new Maui County film commissioner.
Maui Weekly

 

November 20

Former film chief Kim Williams calls for production subsidies review

Kim Williams, one-time head of the Australian Film Commission and founding chairman of the Film Finance Corporation (now Screen Australia), has compared Australia’s film and television producers to farmers and the motor industry, saying they are overly dependent on subsidies for their survival.
Sydney Morning Herald

New Film, Protests Highlight Disappearances In Pakistan

A new short film, “The Line of Freedom,” hopes to shed light on this largely forgotten crisis. It depicts the story of a Baloch activist who was abducted and tortured and then dumped after being shot.
Radio Free Europe

Mizoram film industry hopes for development with new government

Swamped by Korean films dubbed in Mizo language, the film industry in Mizoram hopes that whichever party comes to power after polls should allocate more funds for its development.
IBN Live

Spike Lee: ‘Good karma made kickstarter film funding campaign a big success’

Filmmaker SPIKE LEE believes the success of his recent Kickstarter.com campaign to fun his new movie is all down to good karma, because he has donated large cash amounts to help other directors get projects off the ground.
Express

 

November 19

Walt Disney’s chain-smoking habit that new film ‘Saving Mr Banks’ hides from view

Walt Disney was known to be an inveterate chain smoker, a habit which led to the lung cancer that would eventually kill him. Yet thanks to his own studio’s ban on screen smoking, a new film about the late Hollywood mogul will not depict him lighting up once.
The Independent

Make Turing film true to life, urges his niece

Inagh Payne expressed concerns about The Imitation Game, to be released next year, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing and Keira Knightley as his friend Joan Clarke.
Manchester Evening News

Twitter Co-Founder Channels Poe’s ‘Raven’ in ‘Evermore’ Short Film

In his short film, Evermore, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone taps into Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven to tell a story of familial devastation and rebirth.
Mashable.com

Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor set to appear in a film by the guys behind Google ad film, Reunion

The Reunion ad maker has been signed to direct Sonakshi and Arjun in a South remake.
Daily News and Analysis

 

November 18

Adult content in German film blacked out

Following reports of adult content finding its way into films screened for children, Sunday saw a blackout for nearly five minutes midway through the screening of a German film.
The Times of India

Susan Boyle: Meryl Streep has been asked to play me on film

Meryl Streep looks set to dust off her pearls and perm after Susan Boyle let slip that the Iron Lady star has been asked to play her in a new film.
Metro

The Runners: why we interviewed people jogging for a film

Would people be more open about their lives if interviewed while jogging? One pair of film-makers decided to find out.
The Guardian

Angola: Luanda Film Festival Kicks Off

The sixth edition of the capital city’s International Film Festival (FIC-Luanda) kicked off last Friday, in Atlântico cinema.
AllAfrica.com

 

November 15

Paul Scholes emerges as unlikely star as new Manchester United film is revealed

Although The Class of 92 pitches itself as a reasonably straightforward football documentary, in many ways it sits firmly in the time-honoured canon of the Hollywood buddy movie.
Independent.ie

Temple Run Movie in the Works by Warner Bros and Harry Potter Producer

Temple Run is going to be making a big screen debut trough Warner Bros. and Harry Potter producer David Heyman. The popular free to play game may be recognizable enough to gain a box office draw, but barely has enough to story make a 90 minute feature length film.
TechnoBuffalo

MPAA recommends cracking down on camera-phones, using night-vision goggles to prevent movie piracy

In its latest attempt to crack down on piracy, the Motion Picture Association of America is pressuring movie theaters to adopt a ban on mobile phones with cameras and certain kinds of eyeglasses.
RT USA

Movie rating ruckus gets rougher as motion picture association defends system

Under increasing pressure over its threshold for violence in PG-13 films, the Motion Picture Association of America defended its often-criticized rating system on Wednesday.
Vancouver Sun

 

November 14

Ring Road Shubha: Kannada film industry’s first all women crew film

A film conceived, written, directed, edited and produced - all by women. In a first for Sandalwood, an all-women crew is set to roll out their film ‘Ring Road Shuba’ in January next year.
IBN Live

Malayalam film to be launched through crowd funding

In a first such initiative in the Malayalam film industry, a movie Oraalpokkam, is being launched through the funding from crowd.
First Post

Anime Robot Cat Doraemon Enters 3rd Dimension in 1st 3D CG Film

The iconic anime robot cat Doraemon will gain another dimension in Stand By Me Doraemon, his first 3D feature film ever, next summer.
Anime News Network

Anil Kapoor to produce a Marathi film

Anil Kapoor is keen to produce a Marathi film.
The Times of India

 

November 13

Hayao Miyazaki out of retirement, again, for manga comic

The Steven Soderbergh of the Japanese animation world, Hayao Miyazaki, is reportedly out of retirement for at least the second time, working on a period-set manga comic.
The Guardian

China Image Film Festival kicks off in London

The 5th China Image Film Festival opened here on Tuesday to give the British people an opportunity to watch 20 Chinese new films, including crime movie Silent Witness, romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right and cartoon movie Kuiba II.
Xinhua China Weekly

Film directors protest at Iran’s embassy in Sweden

A group of international film directors are protesting outside Iran’s embassy in Stockholm against that government’s censorship of Iranian film maker Mohammad Rasoulof.
Miami Herald

Ram-leela: Sanjay Bhansali’s Film Stokes New Controversy Over Title; Court Stays Release

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film “Ram-leela” has landed into another controversy. After drawing much ire from the Rajput community over its content, the film is now in trouble over the title.
International Business Times

 

November 12

Film Critic J. Hoberman Named New York Times Video Columnist

Film critic J. Hoberman will become the video columnist at The New York Times, the newspaper announced in a short item in yesterday’s Arts & Leisure section.
New York Observer

200 films from 48 countries for children’s film festival

About 200 films from 48 countries will be screened in the 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India to be held here from November 14.
The Hindu

John Barnett: Film industry needs more top producers

Auckland film crews have taken to the media to highlight the fall off in Large Budget TV projects coming to the area and the consequent impact on the sector.
The New Zealand Herald

Film Group Backs Antipiracy Curriculum for Schools

When it comes to learning about the evils of Internet piracy, Hollywood studios and the major music labels want kids to start young.
ABC News

 

November 11

Film Fest brings much loved French filmmaker back

Catherine Breillat’s film initiated a fight for tickets in the 2004 festival. This year, Kolkata is set to witness the fighter’s tale, again.
India Times

Not in Bruges – Belgian mayor’s crackdown on shooting film

Mayor Renaat Landuyt could well have had Colin Farrell’s inept assassin Ray in mind when he decided that the medieval city of Bruges should be a little more discerning about how it is portrayed on celluloid.
Irish Independent

Film auteur Agnes Varda marks her California return with artful glee

The LACMA exhibition ‘Agnes Varda in Californialand’ traces the French filmmaker’s time in the Golden State and her merging of art and life.
Los Angeles Times

Africa film festival aims to be continent’s Cannes

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) opens in Nigeria on Sunday and although it is still in its infancy, organisers hope that with time it can become the continent’s Cannes.
GMA News

 

November 8

PlayStation plans cinema promotion using new tech

PlayStation will be the first brand to use the ‘cinime’ app, developed to engage cinema audiences with brands via “second screen” interaction, for a national campaign.
Marketing Week

Novemeber 7

Star Wars sequel: Open auditions to be held in UK

The casting sessions for Star Wars: Episode VII will start later this week at locations around the UK and Ireland.
BBC News

Swedish cinemas introduce ‘feminism rating’ for films

Cinemas in Sweden have begun to issue ratings for films depending on how they portray women: whether there are named female characters, who speak together, and whether they discuss something other than a man.
The Telegraph

Munich art find mirrors Clooney and Damon film on search for Nazi loot

The sensational discovery is the biggest since the disbandment of the WWII Monuments Men unit portrayed in an upcoming, star-studded Hollywood film.
Haaretz

 

November 6

Motley Crue to get biography film

Motley Crue are set to get a film made about them which will be directed by Bad Grandpa’s Jeff Tremaine.
Belfast Telegraph

2013 Japanese Film Festival to be held in Bahrain

The Japanese Embassy to the Kingdom of Bahrain, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, holds the 2013 Japanese Film Festival at the Hall of the Bahrain National Museum.
Bahrain News

Myanmar Cinema: Domestic Film Villains No Longer In Demand As More Western Films Are Shown

Myanmar’s opening is good news for almost everyone – except for actors who played villains in domestic film productions who are suddenly out of work, as Western films invade the Southeast Asian nation, along with the bigger and badder bad guys in them.
International Business Times

All Sports Film Festival works up a sweat in North Hollywood

The fifth annual All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival comes to the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood Friday. Some 54 movies from 11 countries will screen through the weekend.
Los Angeles Daily News

 

November 5

Famous ‘Dead Island’ trailer recreated in live-action film

Fans of “Dead Island” have created a live-action version of a stunning short film that was first released in 2011 to help promote the zombie video game.
NBC News

Three top studios are vying for Salman Khan next film

Disney-UTV, whose last Chennai Express starred SRK, are keen to release Salman’s next.
Daily News and Analysis India

Fefsi to ask for revival of Film City

The Federation will also request the CM to provide tax concessions for filming in the State
The Hindu

Pontchartrain Film Festival kicks off Friday; ‘Warehouse on Tchoupitoulas’ among films to screen

Slidell’s Pontchartrain Film Festival returns for its second year this weekend, bringing three days of films, workshops and discussions to eastern St. Tammany Parish.
The Times-Picayune

 

November 4

Man who led searches for bodies unhappy with film’s treatment of special commission

The RTÉ/BBC Northern Ireland film The Disappeared has great impact and is “very disturbing” but it ought to have contained greater reference to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, claims the man closely involved in the search for the Disappeared.
Irish Times

Kannada film director Rajendra Babu dies

BANGALORE: Well-known Kannada film director D Rajendra Babu passed away in Bangalore on Sunday. The actor was 62.
Times of India

Film explores Jasper Mountain

The documentary, “Once Upon a Mountain,” opens the Eugene International Film Festival this week.
The Register-Guard

The Boston Jewish Film Festival at 25

That artistic independence and commitment to diversity still drives the Boston Jewish Film Festival as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The Boston Globe

 

November 1

Luc Besson slams Taiwan paparazzi

French film director Luc Besson has slammed paparazzi in Taiwan for interfering with the shooting of his latest film, but denied reports that he considered leaving the island early to underscore his disgust over their actions.
Independent.ie

Bill Murray signs up for supernatural comedy

Bill Murray and Seth Rogen have signed up for ‘BOO: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations’.
Virgin Movies

Deadpool Movie Closer To Green Light, Script Revised

A week ago Ryan Reynolds indicated that the Deadpool movie had recently taken some tiptoes forward. Now, Tim Miller, who is the director attached to the project, has also indicated things are moving forward.
Comicbook.com

Sony profit forecast cut after loss

The flop of action movie White House Down added to earnings woes at Sony in the latest quarter, dragging the entertainment and electronics giant to a 19.3 billion yen (£122 million) loss.
Belfast Telegraph

 

October 31

Ukraine film festival targeted by anti-LGBT protesters

Molodist festival hit by placard-waving picketers complaining about ‘gay propaganda’.
The Guardian

David Cronenberg exhibit of strange film artifacts comes to TIFF

Props from ‘The Fly,’ ‘Dead Ringers’ on display.
CBC News

TCM to air cult classic horror film ‘Freaks’ for Halloween

Tonight on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) we get a relatively rare chance to view Tod Browning’s 1932 cult-classic horror film “Freaks.”
The Washington Times

Outlander TV show ‘will secure Scots film future’

A VAST TV and film studio complex will be a permanent legacy of Scotland’s answer to hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, under plans announced by the owner of the industrial site where filming has just started.
The Scotsman

 

October 30

Justin Timberlake film ‘In Time’ prompts plagiarism suit

Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency have been sued by a Greek screenwriter alleging the companies stole his idea and used it for the 2011 Justin Timberlake film “In Time.”
Chicago Tribune

Doug Ellin Says ‘Entourage’ Film Is ‘A Go’

Series creator Doug Ellin says a long-planned “Entourage” movie is finally “a go.”
Huffington Post

GI Film Festival brings military movie mind-set to Burbank

The GI Film Festival is saluting Los Angeles for the second time this Friday and Saturday on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, a worthy reprise after years of playing the nation’s capital.
Long Beach Press Telegram

Vancouver doctor’s film script about cancer survivor hits the big screen

Story of medical breakthrough winning awards at film festivals.
Vancouver Sun

 

October 29

Film planned of Susan Boyle’s life, singer tells fans

A film is being planned about Susan Boyle’s rise to fame, she has told fans at a press conference.
BBC

Ranbir Kapoor to inaugurate children’s film fest

Actor Ranbir Kapoor will be inaugurating the 18th International Children’s Film Festival, India (ICFFI), popularly known as The Golden Elephant, to be held in Hyderabad from Nov 14.
Daily News and Analysis India

Middleburg Film Festival is like an itty-bitty Cannes, with a few stars amid the foliage

If Robert Redford sees the potential for a film festival, it’s probably wise to take note. So that’s exactly what Sheila Johnson did a few years ago, when Redford visited the 340-acre Middleburg, Va., spread where she was planning to build the Salamander Resort.
The Washington Post

Manga UK Licenses Live-Action Hentai Kamen Film

Manga Entertainment UK announced during MCM London Comic Con this past weekend that it licensed the live-action HK/Hentai Kamen film under the title Forbidden Super Hero.
Anime News Network

 

October 28

Second extortion attempt reported on Transformers 4 Hong Kong film set

A man has been arrested on suspicion of blackmail.
The Independent

Wachowskis Hope to Surprise With Next Film

The Wachowski siblings say they’re hoping to again surprise audiences with the science-fiction movie “Jupiter Ascending,” starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis.
ABC News

Hal Needham, stuntman and action film director, dies at 82

Hal Needham, a veteran Hollywood stuntman who later embarked on a less risky career as a director of action movies including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Cannonball Run,” both of which starred his friend Burt Reynolds, died Friday in Los Angeles.
Dallas News

Media circus forces Luc Besson film out of Taiwan

French director Luc Besson has wrapped up location shooting in Taipei ahead of schedule for his latest film Lucy after becoming fed up with the intrusion of local media.
China Times

 

October 25

Abrams and Kasdan Take Over Writing of New ‘Star Wars’ Movie

Lucasfilm on Thursday said that Michael Arndt would be replaced as the screenwriter of “Star Wars: Episode VII,” which is scheduled to begin filming in the spring, for a planned 2015 release.
New York Times

Plan for $50m film studio in Perth

It is an ambitious goal, but a Perth film producer believes he can build WA’s first film studio within the next three years.
The West Australian

Indian media pay tributes to legendary singer Manna Dey

Media in India are paying rich tributes to legendary Bollywood singer Manna Dey, who died on Thursday.
BBC News

October 24

Colin Farrell to be honored at tribute, more films added to festival lineup

Colin Farrell, one of the leads in the new film “Saving Mr. Banks,” to be screened next month at the third annual Napa Valley Film Festival, will be honored as part of a special tribute program.
Napa Valley Register

RIDM goes around the world in 135 films

Documentary festival takes a typically wide-ranging approach.
The Montreal Gazette

Centre alone can suspend screening of films certified by Censor Board: panel

Empathising with film-makers confronted with demands for a ban on their films by “vested groups, fringe elements” as in the case of Vishwaroopam and Madras Cafe in the recent past, the Empowered Committee on film certification has mandated that no State government can order the suspension of a film.
The Hindu

Kamkwamba documentary wins international film award

William and the Windmill, a documentary that traces the life of a young Malawian William Kamkwamba who teaches himself to build a power-generating windmill from junk parts, successfully rescuing his family from poverty and famine, was presented with the Best Documentary Feature Award at the Flyway Film Festival in Wisconsin, USA on Sunday.
Nyasa Times

 

October 23

Benedict Cumberbatch front-runner to play George Mallory in Hollywood film, Everest

The Sherlock star is rumoured to be favourite to play British climber who died attempting to be the first man to climb Mount Everest
The Telegraph

Avatar shoot in NZ uncertain as film industry slumps

After the success of movies like The Lord of the Rings and Avatar, the New Zealand film industry is now facing crippling losses.
TVNZ

Tribeca Film Festival sues developer over Pier 57 renovation

The film festival filed court papers against Young Woo & Associates, saying the developer reneged on partnership in which the event could utilize space and would secure naming rights to the overhaul taking place on W. 15th St. and 11th Ave. But Tribeca says Young Woo backed out of the deal in order to make more profit from the endeavor.
New York Daily News

Everest film makes NZ premiere

A New Zealand feature film of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s ascent of Mt Everest in 1953 was well received at its official opening in Wellington on Tuesday night.
Radio New Zealand

 

October 22

Marvel Boss Says Female Superhero Film Won’t Happen Before 2016

Don’t expect to see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow have her own movie before 2016. That’s the word from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, who told Movies.com that the company was not adding any other features to its current roster for the foreseeable future.
The Huffington Post

Sultan opens first Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival

Children’s films a mirror that enables to see society, Shaikha Jawaher remarks.
Gulf News

Film Director Urges Japan to Improve Nuclear Power

Dressed in white hazmat coveralls and carrying a dosimeter, documentary film director Robert Stone ventured into the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant’s exclusion zone a year after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns in three reactors.
ABC News

Jenni Fagan clinches deal for The Panopticon film

A SCOTTISH author who shot to fame with her debut novel last year has clinched a deal to see it turned into a major feature film.
The Scotsman

 

October 21

Thor’s Natalie Portman: London rivals Hollywood

Two stars of superhero sequel praise UK capital as leading film location after completing most work at Shepperton.
The Guardian

Film Festival puts philanthropy on the big screen

The Washington West Film Festival is scheduled to debut a range of independent movies, documentaries and short films this week at Reston Bow Tie Cinemas that attempt to capture the human condition.
The Washington Post

Simi Garewal to direct a film soon

Veteran actress Simi Garewal is planning to go behind the camera to direct a film.
India Today

Historians hired to expose film fibs

Hollywood studios are recruiting academics as “history assassins” to help them undermine rival studios’ Oscar-contending films.
The Australian

 

October 18

October 17

Destroyed film renewed for 40th

When John Weiley’s documentary about the construction of the Sydney Opera House was destroyed by the BBC in 1968, he thought he may never see it again.
The Australian

Kumar Pallana, Who Went From Yoga to Film, Dies at 94

Kumar Pallana, an Indian plate spinner turned Texas yoga instructor turned — in his late 70s and long beyond — sought-after character actor in films by Wes Anderson, Steven Spielberg and others, died on Thursday at his home in Oakland, Calif. He was 94.
The New York Times

Theatre’s closing leaves Victoria Film Festival scrambling for new venue and equipment

One of the Victoria Film Festival’s major screening venues has closed its doors for good – leaving festival organizers with less than four months to secure a new location and raise funds for a pricey piece of equipment in time for its 20th anniversary.
The Globe and Mail

Darren Aronofksy ‘fighting with studio’ over Noah epic

Mixed reactions at test screenings for key demographics credited for wrangle over final cut of Biblical epic starring Russell Crowe as the ark-man.
The Guardian

 

October 16

The Arab Film Festival visits Los Angeles on Friday through Sunday

The Arab Film Festival, which opens Friday at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Los Angeles and continues through Oct. 20, is the largest independent annual showcase of Arab films and filmmakers in the United States.
Los Angeles Times

Live-Action Kamen Teacher Drama Gets Film Next Year

Adaptation of Tohru Fujisawa’s manga to open on February 22
Anime News Network

Actor in Brad Pitt film ‘stabbed with bayonet’ on set

An actor has been airlifted to hospital from the set of Brad Pitt’s new World War II film after reportedly being stabbed with a bayonet.
The Telegraph

Tax changes in budget seeks to enhance Ireland’s attractiveness as film destination

Salaries for Hollywood stars to be used to lower tax bill for productions shot in Ireland
The Irish Times

 

October 15

Actors Gould, Crosby to help film society

Screen legend Elliott Gould will appear at several fundraising events this weekend for the Olympia Film Society, including a screening of the 1970 Robert Altman film “M.A.S.H.,” in which Gould played Trapper John McIntyr.
The News Tribune

Alan Franey steps down as Vancouver International Film Festival director

After 26 years as the director of the Vancouver International Film Festival, Alan Franey is stepping down.
The Vancouver Sun

Film Buffs Hit the Hamptons

The Polos-and-Pearls Set Returns for the Hamptons International Film Festival
The Wall Street Journal

Yandex Buys KinoPoisk, ‘Russia’s IMDb’, To Move Into Film Search And Recommendation

Yandex, the search company often referred to as the Google of Russia, is today announcing its latest acquisition: KinoPoisk, an online film database known as “the IMDb of Russia” (after the Amazon-owned company that KinoPoisk recreated in Russia) with some 18.6 million visitors per month.
Tech Crunch

 

October 14

Northampton Clown is unmasked as student and film maker Alex Powell

The Northampton University student has said he will continue to appear as the clown despite death threats
The Independent

David Duchovny pushes for third ‘X-Files’ film

David Duchovny is pushing for a new The X-Files movie, but fears creator Chris Carter’s busy schedule will prevent him from completing the script any time soon.
The Toronto Sun

Iranian director Payman Maadi takes controversial film to Australia

Payman Maadi’s award-winning film Snow On Pines is the flagship feature in the Iranian Film Festival Australia (IFFA), but the greatest satisfaction for Maadi came from the struggle to get the film onto screens in Iran.
ABC News

Russian LGBT film festival wins appeal against ‘foreign agent’ ruling

Side by Side festival based in St Petersburg had been hit with large fine over alleged overseas funding links.
The Guardian

 

April 30

Could Grace Of Monaco Be The New Diana?

Super-producer Harvey Weinstein is said to be thinking about pulling the plug on his latest movie Grace of Monaco, which is set to open the Cannes Film Festival in two weeks.
Yahoo News

Bullock ‘for Tupperware film role’

Sandra Bullock is reportedly considering a role playing saleswoman Brownie Wise, who invented Tupperware parties in the 1950s.
Belfast Telegraph

Seattle International Film Festival to honor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laura Dern

The Seattle International Film Festival said it will honor Academy Award-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and actress, producer and director Laura Dern with Tribute awards for Outstanding Achievement in Acting at the 40th annual festival, which begins next month.
Pudget Sound Business Journal

April 29

Star Wars Episode VII: Are The Big Three already in the UK?

Rumours abound that the three potential lead actors (Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) for Star Wars Episode VII are already in the UK and preparing to shoot their scenes, and some reports claim that some of the actors have already started.
Metro

Nazi era films screened in Berlin

Eighty years after Nazi propaganda films were made and given to Hitler as a gift, they are again being screened in Berlin. The audience must attend a lecture and a debate before the screening - a move that some say is patronising.
BBC News

Tomas Alfredson to Direct The Snowman; Martin Scorsese to Executive Produce

The Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy director has signed on to direct The Snowman. Martin Scorsese was attached to direct the adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s crime thriller as of 2011.
Collider.com

April 28

Unseen Hollywood photos to go on display

Previously unseen photographs of Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Dirk Bogarde, taken by the late photographer George Douglas, are to go on display for the first time in Brighton.
BBC News

Cinecittà studios: Italy’s Hollywood home celebrated with Google doodle

Google’s latest doodle celebrates the Cinecittà studios in Rome, a home from home for Hollywood stars in the 1950s and 60s.
The Guardian

Justin Theroux, Liv Tyler and Paterson Joseph star in first trailer for The Leftovers

The new post-apocalyptic series from Lost creator Damon Lindelof focuses on the aftermath of a global “Rapture” which sees two per cent of the world’s population disappear without a trace.
Radio Times

April 27

John Travolta a hit at the 15th Indian International Film Academy awards in Florida

John Travolta was honoured as the Most Popular All-Time International Star in India, and did some on-the-spot Saturday Night Fever moves to roaring applause.
The National

April 25

Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale to walk that tightrope with Phiippe Petit in Zemeckis’ biopic!

That Philippe Petite biopic that Robert Zemeckis has been getting together for Joseph Gordon-Levitt has just added a few more cast members, including Sir Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale in as-yet-unknown roles.
Ain’t It Cool

April 22

Maya Angelou appointed Honorary Global Ambassador for Mandela International Film Festival

The acclaimed author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has accepted the role of Honorary Global Ambassador of the 2015 Mandela International Film Festival.
Sowetan Live

April 2

Edinburgh pub ginger jibe inspired US film-maker

A new film, Being Ginger, has gone on general release. Its American film-maker says it was inspired by an unkind remark in a Scottish pub.
BBC News

Trailer for Brittany Murphy’s final film released

The trailer for Brittany Murphy’s final film Something Wicked has been released, promising a mix of horror and high drama.
The Independent

Indian director plans film ‘fully shot in Oman’

Award-winning south Indian film director Shyamaprasad, who has excelled simultaneously in Indian and international cinema, is planning to make an Indian movie that will be fully shot in Oman.
Times of Oman

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ to start shooting in Morocco this May

Shooting on Star Wars: Episode VII will start in Morocco next month (May 2014).
NME

April 1

Sachin Tendulkar to act in film based on his life

Directed by the famous Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowrikar, the film will also have big names like Rajnikant, Madhuri Dixit and Nana Patekar in the star cast. 
The Cricket Country

Kickstarter funded film ‘Fool’s Day’ wins best short at Cleveland film festival

After successful showings at the Tribeca, Omaha, and Vail film festivals, Fool’s Day, by Cody Blue Snider, was the audience’s favorite short film and won the audience choice award for best short entry at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Examiner

Film director Sally Potter picks up fellowship honour in Bradford

Director Sally Potter has received this year’s Bradford International Film Award Fellowship. Over the past 30 years, her films have moved between various facets of culture, exploring dance, music, history, gender and performance.
Telegraph and Argus

Dubai’s Gulf Film Festival 2014 postponed

The festival, which was due to run in Dubai from April 9 to April 15, has been postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances” that the organizers say are “out of our control.”
The National

March 31

Harry Potter spin-off ‘will be a film trilogy’

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is to be made into a film trilogy.
BBC News

Justice League film to be announced shortly

Warner Bros’ plans to expand their cinematic universe of DC characters with a slew of new films, set to be announced “in the new future”.
Yahoo! Movies

Woman director’s film about rape survivor wins an Award

Writer-filmmaker Insia Dariwala’s co-directorial documentary ‘17 Not Required Indians’ won special mention at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2013.
Times of India

Trailer for ‘Once’ director John Carney’s new film debuts online

John Carney’s Begin Again, produced by the Weinstein Company, is released on Youtube.
Entertainment.ie

March 28

Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate IFFM

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will inaugurate the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
The Indian Express

Shailene’s film ‘breaking female lead paradigms’

The plot centres on a young girl with an oxygen tank named Hazel, played by Shailene, who falls in love with an athlete after meeting at a cancer support group.
TV3

Myanmar to host the first Youth Film Fest

The Myanmar Youths Union (MYU) will host the first Youth Film Festival in Myanmar in August to mark International Youth Day.
Eleven Myanmar

‘New Girl’ star Jake Johnson cast in ‘Jurassic World’

Johnson joins the growing cast, which currently includes Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, Vincent D’Onofrio, Irrfan Khan, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, and Omar Sy. 
MStars News

March 27

Madonna to Direct New Film

The Queen of Pop is directing a film adaptation of Adé: A Love Story a debut novel by Rebecca Walker. The film is to be produced by Bruce Cohen.
Guardian Liberty Voice

Damian Lewis joins cast of John le Carré film Our Kind of Traitor

Homeland actor cast as member of British intelligence for adaptation which also stars Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris.
The Guardian

Schwarzenegger reveals Terminator has aged in new film

Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised that the new ‘Terminator’ movie will be full of surprises.
Firstpost

Film wages ‘interfaith campaign’ against abuse of Muslim women

A non-profit group founded by a rabbi teamed up with Muslim activists to produce ‘Honor Diaries,’ a documentary spotlighting the mutilation and murder of women and girls in Islamic societies.
Haaretz

March 25

Plane-crash film shelved due to similarities with flight MH370

Production company behind Deep Water says it’s ‘not the right time’ to shoot movie about Beijing-bound flight crashing into sea.
The Guardian

Film on Hercules to be made in Bengali

Director duo Sudeshna Roy-Abhijit Guha now brings Hercules to the contemporary Bengal casting Saswata Chatterjee in the lead.
IBN Live

Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan to co-star in Christmas film

The two Hollywood stars will shoot A Christmas Star to help mark the 25th anniversary of the Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People.
3 News New Zealand

Abhishek Kapoor to Direct ‘Mahabharata’ Film

Director Abhishek Kapoor is planning to bring Indian mythology’s greatest epic “The Mahabharata” to the big screen.
India West

March 21

1917 film shows the cotton mill process in Adams

The footage — a little more than 19 minutes — covers the entire process of the cotton cloth making process from bales to the final fabric. The Adams Historical Society holds the film and has had it digitized.
The Berkshire Eagle

Vietnam film festival to run in US

Several Vietnamese blockbusters will be screened at a Vietnamese film festival in the U.S. next month in an attempt to promote local films to the world.
Tuoitre News

New BBC series chronicles Tamil film comedy

BBC Tamil is embarking on an exploration of film comedy with a new 15-part weekly radio series.
The Hindu

Clover manga will be made into live-action film

It’s been revealed that Toriko Chiya’s ‘Clover’ manga is to receive a live-action film adaptation due out in cinemas on 1 November.
Yahoo! Movies UK

March 20

West Oscar-winner, inspiration to generation of film-makers, dies at 98

Oscar-winning British cinematographer Oswald Morris, who worked with some of the great directors, including John Huston and Stanley Kubrick, has died at the age of 98, at his home in Dorset.
Western Morning News

Film to tell story of the making of Clerks

Clerks was a hit film made on a shoestring budget which made stars of its cast and crew and inspired a generation of indie auteurs.
The Scotsman

New ‘Star Wars’ film to be set 30 years after ‘Return of the Jedi’

The highly anticipated next installment of the “Star Wars” franchise will be set 30 years after “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” Walt Disney Co.’s chief executive officer Bob Iger said on Tuesday at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Reuters

Sofia Coppola in talks to direct live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ film

She is negotiating to helm a live-action adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” the story of a sea creature chafing against her life of looking lovely and swimming aimlessly about.
The Los Angeles Times

March 18

Girls Night Out film to begin shooting in Hull

Hull streets will be transformed to resemble iconic London landmarks when shooting of a feature film begins next month.
Hull Mail

NYIFF to spotlight Gurinder Chadha

The 14th Annual New York Indian Film Festival will put the spotlight on British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha to celebrate the 20th

 

 

March 13

Smurfs 3 to be fully animated film

The third Smurfs film will be a wholly computer-animated affair that will take the popular cartoon characters in “a completely new fresh direction” says director Kelly Asbury.
BBC UK

‘Of Many’ Film To Premier at Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced that a documentary short about Muslims-Jew relations produced by Chelsea Clinton will hold its world premiere during the festival at the end of April.
The Huffington Post

Kevin Feige discusses solo Black Widow film

Kevin Feige contemplates giving Scarlett Johansson’s character her own movie.
Yahoo! Movies

‘First lady’ of Czech film Vera Chytilova dies at 85

Czech filmmaker Vera Chytilova, dubbed the “first lady” of Czech cinema, died aged 85 in Prague yesterday, the CTK news agency said quoting her family.
The Malay Mail

March 11

Studio cut of Noah ‘featured religious montage and Christian rock song’

Studio executives tested an alternate version of Darren Aronofsky’s forthcoming biblical epic Noah that opened with a montage of religious images and ended with a Christian rock song, it has been revealed.
The Guardian

Shyam Ramsay creates vampire horror film

The Indian horror film pioneer, who has made a whopping 32 horror movies in the past, is primed for the release of his next scare fest Neighbours.
Times of India

The Goldfinch film adaptation from Hunger Games producers in works

A screen adaptation of Donna Tartt’s bestselling novel The Goldfinch is on the way after the producers behind The Hunger Games announced that they have taken up an option on the book.
The Book Seller

Azerbaijani movie joins 42nd Belgrade International Film Festival

The Steppe Man (Cholchu), a movie by Azerbaijani filmmaker Shamil Aliyev, was screened at the 42nd Belgrade International Film Festival – FEST in Serbia.
News Az

March 7

Noah film should be banned says Egypt’s top Islamic body

Egypt’s top Islamic body said on Thursday the big budget Hollywood biblical epic “Noah” starring Russell Crowe was irreligious and should not be screened in the country.
The Telegraph

Kenyan film picked for Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

Film Director, Mark Kaiyare shares his view on the film “Deceit” which has been nominated for Best Online Video on Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Capital News

Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn to Play Warren Jeffs In Lifetime Movie

Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn has been cast as Mormon polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs in the upcoming Lifetime movie Outlaw Prophet based on the Stephen Singular book When Men Become Gods.
Vulture

China’s Huayi Brothers to invest in Jeff Robinov’s new film company

Beijing-based film production company Huayi Brothers Media Corp. plans to invest up to $150 million in a new movie company from Jeff Robinov, the former president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
LA Times

March 6

Gulaab Gang producers challenge court decision to stop film’s release

The Delhi High Court ruled that the movie not be released anywhere in India in its censored or uncensored form till May 8. Gulaab Gang was meant to on March 7. The film is about a group of women fighting social injustices in a rural village community.
NDTV

Tom Cruise director praises UK film crews

Doug Liman, the director of Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi film has spoken of the “extraordinary” experience he had shooting in the UK.
BBC

Zack Snyder defends Jesse Eisenberg’s casting as Lex Luthor

Director of Superman v Batman movie says he ‘knows what these characters need from a mythological standpoint’ and also reveals fresh details of the Batsuit.
The Guardian

Turkey bans ‘pornographic’ Lars Von Trier film ‘Nymphomaniac’

The film is ‘pushing the boundaries of porn’ and unfit for public viewing, Turkey’s film board says.
Haaretz

March 4

Hostility to John Pilger’s film a denial of nation’s brutal past

Utopia receives hardly any mainstream media attention, claims Adam Goodes
Sydney Morning Herald

Feature film shot entirely on an iPhone

Uneasy Lies The Mind was shot using an iPhone 5 and a lens adapter and will be screened at San Jose Cinequest Film Festival
Daily Mail

World Of Women film fair opens in Dubai

International Women’s Day kicks off with the inaugural World Of Women Fair Middle East.
Gulf News

Japanese Film Festival begins at Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The four-day Japanese Film Festival kicked off on Monday at the Rawalpindi Arts Council where four Japanese films with English sub-titles would be showcased.
Daily Times

February 28

Adam Driver cast in Star Wars Episode VII

The 30-year-old actor is allegedly in talks with director JJ Abrams to star as a character in the vein of iconic antagonist Darth Vader.
Express

Allman film shelved after crash

Filmmakers have shelved production on a movie about the life of rock musician Gregg Allman a week after a freight train crashed into the production team.
Belfast Telegraph

President Obama to host White House Student Film Festival

Hosted by President Obama, the festival will showcase student-created films about how technology is used in their classrooms and what role technology will play in education in the future.
Los Angeles Times

Lahore International Film Festival celebrates young film-makers

An on-going festival, which has been showcasing the true potential of young film-makers, is the inaugural Lahore International Film Festival, dated February 25 till February 28.
The Express Tribune

February 27

Terrence Malick reaches settlement over unfinished film Voyage of Time

The film director has nine months to pay a settlement sum with the financiers of Voyage of Time, an epoch-straddling documentary that remains unfinished
The Guardian

Australia bans award-winning Swedish film Children’s Island over child porn concerns

Censors have refused classification for a 30-year-old award-winning Swedish film, in effect banning it, after an application by the Australian Federal Police.
Sydney Morning Herald

Bill seeks 5-year tax break for local film industry

A partylist lawmaker filed a bill in Congress at Manila, Philippines seeking a five year tax-holiday for the local film industry to help it recover and compete internationally.
Phil Star Nation

Northern emergency doctor sponsors film festival in The Pas

Dr. Bernhard Friz joined forces with Coleen Rajotte, director of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, to create Storytellers — The Pas’ First Film Festival of Aboriginal and Northern Peoples.
CBC News Manitoba

February 25

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Making Film About Sega-Nintendo Rivalry

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will follow their apocalyptic 2013 smash This Is the End with Console Wars
Rolling Stone

East Lancashire film-maker lands ‘Emmy’ in USA

Director David Barnes, 35, walked up on stage with the cast and crew of BBC Two programme ‘Same But Different’ to collect the prize at the second International Kids Emmy Awards.
Blackburn Citizen

Award coup led by Thai indie film

It was a coup by independent filmmakers at the Thai film industry’s awards night on Sunday when almost all major prizes went to talents working in the margin, leaving the mainstream heavyweights with just a few consolation trophies.
Bangkok Post

Sir Ben Kingsley cast in James Dean film

The film revolves around a 1955 road trip that James Dean took with Life Magazine photographer Dennis Stock just a few months before his death.
Daily News and Analysis

February 20

The BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival to be rebranded after 26 years as ‘BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

One of the world’s most significant gay film festivals is getting a makeover after 26 years, changing its name to reflect the “increasing diversity of the programme and the people who identify with and embrace it”.
The Independent

Danny Boyle courting biopic of tennis star Billie Jean King

Director reportedly in talks over film about King’s ‘battle of the sexes’ match with male veteran Bobby Riggs
The Guardian

Sunil Bohra to direct a film on Dawood Ibrahim

Sunil Bohra who co-produced films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster, is all set to direct a film revolving around India’s most wanted terrorist.
Times of India

Studio Ghibli season to launch at BFI

The BFI will screen the complete retrospective of Hayao Miyazaki’s film studio for two months from April.
The Telegraph

February 19

Bret Easton Ellis working on film project with Kanye West

The author and screenwriter has revealed a little more about his project with the rapper, saying it’s currently ‘in Kanye land’
The Guardian

Harry Potter, Walking Dead Celebs Release Short Tax Film

The short, entitled Future News was directed by David Yates. Celebrities in the UK worked together on a short film released today in support of the financial transaction tax. The three minute film is designed to influence negotiations.
Forbes

James Cameron gives ‘Avatar’ sequels update

James Cameron has spoken about the progress on his forthcoming Avatar sequels.
NME

Julianne Moore for gay rights movie

Julianne Moore and Zach Galifianakis have joined the cast of gay rights drama Freeheld.
The Belfast Telegraph

February 18

Derek Jarman unseen nightclub film to get London premiere

Almost exactly 20 years after his death, a previously unseen film by Derek Jarman has come to light, shot inside a gay nightclub in east London, and will be premiered next month.
The Guardian

Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken: clip offers first look at Louis Zamperini film

The first glimpse of Angelina Jolie’s new directing project, Unbroken, has surfaced online, taking advantage of the interest in the winter Olympics by highlighting the athletic achievements of its real-life subject.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Colin Baker to play lead in Finding Richard

Doctor Who star Colin Baker is to play the lead in a film featuring the discovery of the remains of King Richard III.
Leicester Mercury

A Malayali film is being made in Oman

Scripted by noted writer and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winner C. V. Balakrishnan and directed by Madhu Kaithapuram, winner of India’s National Film Award, the title of the movie is Velli Vechathi
Times of Oman

February 14

Banned: After Wolf Of Wall Street,The Kenya Film Classification Board Outlaws A Number Of Films

After Wolf of Wall Street, the Kenya Film commission has outlawed a number of films. These are films that are related to the late Sheikh Aboud Rogo contentious Muslim cleric .Anyone found with these movies might spend sometime in the can.
Ghafla

Edinburgh cartoon apocalypse film seeks funding

Described as “Cloverfield meets Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, the short animation follows university students John and Michael after the arrival of the colourful monsters – or toons.
Edinburgh News

World’s Oldest Holocaust Survivor Stars in Oscar-Nominated Film

In her 110 years, Alice Herz-Sommer has been an accomplished concert pianist and teacher, a wife and mother — and a prisoner in Theresienstadt. Now she is the star of an Oscar-nominated documentary showing her indomitable optimism, cheerfulness and vitality despite all the upheavals and horrors she faced in the 20th century.
Jewish Press

Comedian Greg Fleet gets serious with zombie film

Greg Fleet is to star in a low-budget Australian zombie film. Me And My Mates vs The Zombie Apocalypse wrapped filming on Friday in the Australian capital, Canberra, and is now in post-production.
The Canberra Times

February 13

Natalie Portman’s directorial debut criticised by orthodox Israeli protesters

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman has been accused of mounting a “foreign invasion” by protesters from Israel’s ultra-orthodox community after arriving in Jerusalem to shoot her directorial debut, reports the Times of Israel.
The Guardian

Kiran Rao to hold special screening of documentary film ‘Gulabi Gang’

A special screening of documentary film titled ‘Gulabi Gang’, directed by Nishtha Jain, will be held for many producers and directors in Mumbai such as Raj Kumar Hirani, Gauri Shinde, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Prasoon Joshi.
The Indian Express

POYKPAC creates movie made out of famous film titles

Comedy troupe POYKPAC have created a short film about a couple breaking up using only the titles of famous movies as its script, and unbelievably it makes perfect sense.
The Independent

Sai Bennett signs up for Amanda Knox film

Sai Bennett, the Mr Selfridge actress, will appear in The Face of An Angel, the film inspired by the murder of Meredith Kercher.
The Telegraph

February 11

Minecraft-makers cancel film inspired by game

Minecraft-maker Mojang has stepped in to prevent the making of a film set in the game’s block-built world.
BBC UK

Looking for lost boys: Hollywood bosses launch search for a Peter Pan

Warner Bros puts out call across UK for boys to star in new movie about JM Barrie character’s origins.
Guardian

Gabriel Axel, Ocar-winning Danish film director, dies at 95

Gabriel Axel, who as director of “Babette’s Feast” became the first Dane to win an Oscar for best foreign film, died Feb. 9. He was 95.
The Washington Post

Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan in Sooraj Barjatya’s next film

Mumbai Actress Sonam Kapoor is likely to reunite with superstar Salman Khan for Sooraj Barjatya’s upcoming film after her debut ‘Saawariya’.
Arab News

February 7

It’s official: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson join ‘Pitch Perfect 2′

Paramount announced Thursday afternoon that the two actresses will return for Pitch Perfect 2.
The Los Angeles Times

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” world premiere kicks off Berlin Film Festival

The 64th Berlin Film Festival is under way in the German capital. Kicking off the 11-day event is the world premiere of US director West Anderson’s caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Deutsche Welle

Sir Elton to produce Joseph film

Sir Elton John is making the film version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Belfast Telegraph

‘Wadjda,’ Saudi Arabia’s First Female-Directed Film, Opens Doors

Hosted at a foreign embassy in Riyadh on a warm night in early June, the premiere was an understated affair. Local media was not invited to the screening due to fears that early reviews could cause a backlash against the film.
Wall Street Journal

February 6

Sequel to ‘Jurassic Park’ to film in New Orleans

Universal Pictures’ long-awaited “Jurassic Park” sequel, “Jurassic World,” will shoot in New Orleans for 11 weeks starting June 2.
Knoe

12 Years A Slave becomes the first film with nudity approved to distribute in India

While The Wolf of Wall Street is setting records for the outrageous number of ‘F’ bombs it employs, another Best Picture contender has broken a different kind of record. 12 Years A Slave became the first film with nudity approved to distribute in India.
Bustle

Film chronicles Vermont’s ‘full-blown’ drug crisis

The film, a fly-on-the-wall look at prescription-drug abuse, focuses on Fred Holmes, a retired pediatrician who willed himself into becoming an expert in treating opiate addiction after discovering many of his teenaged patients were hooked on painkillers.
The Globe and Mail

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to make comeback in Mani Ratnam film

The actress took a break from films following the birth of daughter Aaradhya two years ago.
India Today

February 4

Philip Seymour Hoffman: stars pay tribute at Critics’ Circle awards

The British film industry paid tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman at the London Critics’ Circle awards last night, with Steve Coogan and Naomie Harris among the stars lining up to celebrate the work of the late Oscar winner.
The Guardian

British film-making sees decline

The number of British films being made has declined in the past few years, according to new figures.
BBC News

‘Lego Movie’ built to be a better toy film

Since the popularity of the “Transformers” franchise, Hollywood has increasingly turned to Hasbro toys like G.I. Joe and Battleship to capitalize on their familiar brands.
News Sentinel

Brazilian film director Coutinho killed in Rio

Leading Brazilian film director Eduardo Coutinho was killed Sunday in an attack at his Rio de Janeiro home, local television reported. Initial reports suggested that the 80-year-old Coutinho’s son Daniel, who suffers from mental illness, stabbed his father to death.
The Nation

January 31

Abhay Deol to put entire film on Facebook

In a first in Bollywood, actor Abhay Deol, 37, and the co-producers of his next film have decided to release their entire film on the social media site, Facebook (on the same day as its India release) However, there’s a catch- only international audiences will get to view the film.
Hindustan Times

£14m plan for two new film studios in Northern Ireland

Two new studios proposed for the Titanic Quarter could put Belfast on the global map of leading locations for film production.
Belfast Telegraph

Baahubali to be most expensive VFX Film

S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film, Baahubali, becomes the highest spender of VFX in Indian cinema, as he will be spending over Rs. 85 crores for the VFX in the film. Also, since Baahubali is a period action drama, it boasts of a never-before-heard budget to create a visual extravaganza.
Bollywood Hungama

Film on Sarai Sierra murder goes to Italy    

U.S. tourist Sarai Sierra, who was murdered in Istanbul last year, has inspired Turkish director Mehmet Bükülmez to make a film about it. 
Hurriyet Daily News

 

January 30

Tom Sherak’s passing is a loss to L.A.’s film industry

The death of Tom Sherak, the respected Hollywood executive and recently appointed film czar for Los Angeles, is a blow to the city’s film industry.
The Los Angeles Times

Mumbai International Film Festival to start on February 3 at NCPA

In its 13th edition, the festival will see the introduction of new awards for producer, cinematographer, editor, sound-recordist and animator.
Bollywood Life

Lady Chatterley film brings Nottinghamshire tourism hopes

Tourism bosses say they will jump at the chance to cash in if a new movie adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is filmed in Notts.
The Nottinham Post

Film Festival celebrates countdown to Tour de France

Big screen showings of classic cycling films will be held at the University of Sheffield as part of the official 100-day countdown to the Tour de France’s Grand Départ.
University of Sheffield News

January 29

Oculus Rift to change the way we watch film

New virtual reality headset that straps over user’s face will not only allow viewers to watch films anywhere but also allow 3D interaction with movies. The first headsets were premiered for filmmakers at Sundance.
Wired

Trailer released for Sly Cooper Movie

The orphaned raccoon thief, protagonist of the recent Thieves in Time PlayStation 3 game will star in his own origins story, helmed by TMNT director Kevin Munroe.
Gamespot

Gatsby dominates AACTAs

Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby won every award for which it was nominated at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts luncheon in Sydney, including production design, costuming and cinematography.
SBS

Akkineni Nageshwara Rao dubbed for his film from death bed

90 year old actor Rao, who lost his battle with cancer on the 22^nd of January, did all his dubbing for new film Manam from his sick bed in his home.
Times of India   

January 28

Cats improve every film they are in

“The film doesn’t really have a plot,” Joel Coen said of Inside Llewyn Davis. “That concerned us at one point; that’s why we threw the cat in.” Coen and his brother Ethan have learnt one of the truisms of the seventh art - that there are few films that are not improved by the presence of a cat.
The Telegraph

Helen Mirren to receive Bafta fellowship

Oscar-winning actor claims news of award as the ‘greatest professional honour I can imagine’
The Guardian

Film puts Internet icon, mission in new focus

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival featured the new documentary ‘The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz’
Boston Globe

American Black Film Festival to Celebrate Black Cinema with Hollywood Awards

The event, which recognizes actors and film producers of African descent in the motion picture industry, is set to take place Feb 19
The Huffington Post

January 27

Lifetime Award for Jackie Weaver

Jackie Weaver has been named as the 39^th recipient of the Raymond Longford Award for her 52 year career. The lifetime achievement award is Australia’s highest accolade.
Yahoo News

Salman Khan takes blame for Jai Ho failure

The star has shouldered the blame for his latest flick’s poor box office performance saying that he was happy with the product but that it was clearly the hero’s fault if audiences did not flock to theatres.
India Today

Stephen Fry to play British PM in 24

2014 will see the actor as the British head of state in the returning hit series.
BBC News

Neill Blomkamp rumoured for Halo TV series

The District 9 is rumoured to be joining Microsofts upcoming series which will be produced by Stephen Spielberg. Blomkamp had previously said he would never work on Halo again after the first attempt fell through.
Scified

January 23

Glasgow film festival: Wes Anderson film opens 10th GFF

The UK Premiere of Wes Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ will open this year’s Glasgow Film Festival, it has been announced.
BBC News

Amish Tripathi’s Immortals of Meluha to be made into a Hollywood film

Author Amish Tripathi, who created waves in Indian publishing with a $1 million book contract, has made a deal with CAA (Creative Artist’s Agency) to make an adaptation of the Indian novel.
Firstpost

50 Shades of grey to be less explicit, producer confirms

Fans of big budget soft core pornography are to be disappointed by the 50 Shades of Grey movie, which producer Michael De Luca has confirmed will ‘obviously’ be less explicit than the book.
The Independent

Telugu Film Industry goes into mourning

Thousands of fans, actors, directors, producers and others from all walks of life thronged the Annapurna Studios where the body of thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao was kept to enable people to pay homage.
DNA

January 22

Jamaican bobsleigh team hit Sundance looking for funding

Jamaica’s bobsleigh team have arrived in Sundance looking to raise the rest of the £50,000 they need to travel to Sochi for the Winter Olympics.
Metro

Bradley Cooper to play Elephant Man on stage

The actor has reportedly landed the lead role in the Broadway revival of the play which won a Tony in in 1979 and inspired David Lynch.
MTV News

Google Glass wearer ejected from cinema

American cinema chain AMC has branded Google Glass use inappropriate for cinema goers. The audience member was taken out of a screening of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit by Homeland Security and questioned for 3.5 hours.
International Business Times

Act of Killing outcry in China

Anger is building on the Chinese mainland after the little-known events of the 1965-66 Indonesian anti-communist purge were revealed by the doc. Despite no plans for official release the film has been seen by thousands of bloggers and even state mouthpiece People’s Daily ran a report on it.
South China Morning Post

January 21

Knesset producing film to fight anti-circumcision laws

The Knesset is producing a short pro-circumcision documentary, to be filmed this week and shown in a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe next week.
The Jerusalem Post

Harvey Weinstein vows to stop making films that glorify gun violence

The producer, whose next film ‘The Senator’s Wife’ is an anti-gun lobby drama, says he will no longer make ‘crazy’ action movies
The Guardian

Bond scriptwriter says new films will “build on ‘Skyfall’”

Logan co-wrote Skyfall and is on board to help pen the 24th and 25th installments in the spy franchise.
NME

Dove Short Film to debut at 2014 Sundance Film Festival

Dove is debuting at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on Monday a short film that explores how social media the way we perceive beauty.
Mashable

January 18

Pakistan film industry ‘comes of age’ with rise of multiplexes

A boost to the number of Pakistan’s multi-screen cinemas is proving beneficial to the country’s film industry.
BBC News Asia

Paramount becomes first studio to go all-in on digital

Wolf of Wall Street reportedly distributed in digital-only, believed to be the first time a major studio has not used film at all for a cinematic release.
Tech Radar

VKontacte signs first film content deal

Russian social network VKontacte is now offering users the opportunity to stream licensed films.  In the second half of 2013 the site launched a major effort to legalize its emdia content after a series of scandals.
Russia Behind the Headlines

Australia India Film Fund set up

The founders of the new fund have raised millions of dollars to produces film and television they say will work as soft diplomacy. Anupam Sharma, the fund’s overseer, hopes to replicate the appeal of India-centric stories from other countries, like Bend It Like Beckham.
SBS

January 20

Disney Grandniece backs Meryl Streep on Walt’s racism and sexism

Abigail Disney, grandniece of Walt, has backed up Meryl Streep following the actor’s recent comments about Walt Disney where she referred to him as a “gender bigot” and a member of an anti-Semitic lobbying organisation.
The Guardian

MCAT film to show dangers of drug and impact of addiction

Director Peter Watkins-Hughes’s latest drama is tackling the dangers of the drug mephedrone in Wales and the devastating effect addiction can have on families.
BBC News

Bollywood’s top film awards to be presented in Florida

The 15th International Indian Film Academy Awards, the Oscars of Bollywood’s yearly $7.8 billion industry, will be presented in the United States for the first time this year, organizers of the event said on Wednesday.
Stabroek News

Kenya Film Board bans Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest movie ‘Wolf of Wall Street’

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) had ordered that the movie Wolf of Wall Street should not be sold, exhibited or distributed in Kenya. KFCB is the body that has been tasked with film content regulation to ensure they conform to the national values.
Standard Digital

January 16

Russian Culture Minister Moots Quota for Foreign Movies

Russia’s culture minister Vladimir Medinsky is considering introducing a cap on the number of movies imported to the country each year, saying that “without it, it is impossible to help the Russian film sector.”
The Guardian

Revealing the truth behind ‘Oscar Appeal’ movies

After analysing 25 years’ worth of data on mainstream cinema, two researchers have discovered that filmmakers that are likely to appeal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences face the same risk-and-reward structure as lobbyists who contribute to political candidates as elections are near.
Zee News

Breakfast at Tiffany’s producer Richard Shepherd dies

Richard Shepherd, the producer of classic Hollywood movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, has died aged 86 at his home in Los Angeles. Shepherd spent six decades in the film business, producing a run of films including the 1961 feature starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.
BBC News

Bryan Cranston stars in Production Assistant’s Short Film, ‘Writer’s Block’

During a break from filming new movie “Cold Comes the Night”, Bryan Cranston put together a contest challenging production assistants to come up with their own scripts. The actor then offered to star in a script of his choosing if there was one he liked.
The Huffington Post

January 15

Kristen Stewart terrified by upcoming role in Equals

The actress is set to star in Drake Doremus’ adaptation of 1984, written by Nathan Parker (Moon). In a recent interview she said that though the story was simple, the film was “overtly ambitious”.
Huffington Post

Toronto Film Festival movies now on Vimeo

Vimeo has made 13 films, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, available on its on-demand platform. Viewers can purchase the films directly from the site and watch on desktop, TV or smartphone.
The Drum

Gavin and Stacey could return for film

Co-creator of hit show Gavin and Stacey, Ruth Jones, has hinted that there may be a film in the works. Jones said she would “definitely” work with James Corden again.
BBC Newsbeat

On-Location production in LA drops significantly

A report by Film L.A. which processes film permits in LA City and County, has blamed a lack of financial incentives for productions increasingly moving to other states. The decline is also blamed for the loss of 4,500 permanent jobs.
South California Public Radio

January 14

Dubai: Censored ‘Wolf’ movie angers film buffs

Filmgoers in the United Arab Emirates have been shown a heavily edited version of The Wolf of Wall Street, which left the story “incomprehensible.” Around 45 minutes of Scorcese’s film was removed - predominantly scenes depicting sex and drug-taking- and dialogue was muted to mask profanity.
BBC News

Film Ratings to be toughened up amid fears over the sexualisation of girls

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) will launch a crackdown on sexual content and bad language in films, particularly in movies rated 12A, 12 and 15. The BBFC says will give greater weight to the “theme and tone” rather than simply specific scenes and details on screen.
The Telegraph

Marvel Eyeing Johnny Depp for ‘Dr.Strange’

Johnny Depp took a meeting with Marvel to discuss playing Doctor Strange in a Phase Three film likely to be released in 2016. If Depp did decide to play the role, it would impact what’s happening in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which currently has a fifth installment set for release in roughly the same time frame. 
The Latino Review

Falmouth Film nominated for BAFTA

A short film made by a local university lecturer and shot on location in and around Falmouth has been nominated for a Bafta. Created on a budget of just £1000 and shot over three days, the film crew featured photography and animation lecturers as well as students.
The Cornishman

January 13

Kurzel to film Macbeth in Elstead

The Snowtown director plans to use the Hankley Common dropping zone to film his new film with Michael Fassbender. The WW2 training site has already been used in numerous Bond films, including Die Another Day and Skyfall.
Getsurrey.co.uk

Gyllenhaal and Brolin arrive in Nepal

Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin have arrived in Nepal to start filming an adaptation of climbing-Everest bestseller Into Thin Air. Baltasar Kormakur, director of Two Guns, is helming the project.
Financial Express  

Richard Dreyfuss to attend Dublin film festival

The Oscar-winning star of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind will attend this Years Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in February. Terry Gilliam will also attend and both men will receive Volta Awards for lifetime achievements.
Irish Times 

Controversy over screening of Scorsese’s Christ film in cathedral

Wells Cathedral in Bath has been attacked for its decision to allow the Bath Film festival to screen The Last Temptation of Christ in its nave. The screening was to accompany a recent screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc in Bath Abbey.
Bath Chronicle

 

January 10

Disney reveals new animated film heroine Moana

Slated for a 2018 release, new title will follow the adventures of a sea voyaging enthusiast
Licensing.biz

Iranian short film gains Mumbai Asian festival’s top prize

Daryoush Qazvani’s short film Hannaneh was chosen as the festival’s best film in the Thursday night closing ceremony of the Third Eye Festival.
Irna

Ben Kingsley Is Returning To The Screen As The Mandarin In New Marvel Short ‘All Hail the King’

The 14 minute short will be released with the Thor: The Dark Wold Blu-Ray in February. Drew Pearce, who wrote the screenplay for Iron Man 3, directed the short film.
American Live Wire

Hedge fund manager sues tax advisers over soured film bet

The founder of UK hedge fund Sloane Robinson is suing his former tax advisers of over 20 years for millions of pounds in damages after an investment in a film company went sour.
Financial News

 

January 9

Popular Chinese microfilm turned into a movie

A Chinese online microfilm, “Old Boys,” which was watched by tens of millions and helped to establish the genre here, is being made into a feature-length movie.
News-Sentinel.com

Sports film festival launched

The International Festival of Sports Movies Krasnogorski will take place from March 28 to April 3 in Moscow. The festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow
SpyGhana

Bryan Singer ‘Negotiating To Direct’ Next ‘X-Men’ Movie

In only a few short months, fans will see Bryan Singer return to the director’s chair of an “X-Men” movie for the first time since 2003’s “X2: X-Men United.
MTV News

Vietnam’s first cartoon-only cinema opens

Vietnam’s first cartoon-only cinema opened on January 9 in a state-of-the-art facility located in the downtown of capital Hanoi.
VietNamNet

January 8

NY Film Critics apologize for heckling of McQueen

Hollywood’s award season, never known for civility, is roiling from a heckling incident between 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and film critic Armond White.
Greenville Online

Movie on boy’s Holocaust fate premieres in Poland

A stirring movie by German Oscar-winning director Pepe Danquart about a Jewish boy struggling to survive the Holocaust is having its world premiere in Warsaw on Wednesday.
CentreDaily.com

Cineplex opens new adults-only VIP theatres

When the new five-auditorium, adults-only 20,000-square-foot VIP section opens at the Cineplex Odeon Queensway theatre complex Jan. 17, moviegoers will have more choices than just what to watch.
TheSpec.com

Palm Springs festival a showcase for Latin films

Palm Springs International Film Festival: The 21 Spanish- and Portuguese-language films in this year’s festival reflect a timely renaissance in Latin cinema. Anticipated titles include ‘Heli’ and ‘Anina.’
LA Times

January 7

Ice Cube’s NWA film spotlights “the world’s most dangerous group”

Straight Outta Compton won’t focus on the bands music.
Newstalk

Will Smith eulogises James Avery on Facebook

Actor pays tribute to his ‘French Prince of Bel-Air’ co-star.
Gulf News

Michael Bay blames technical hitch for onstage meltdown

Director Michael Bay has blamed a technical mishap for prompting his walkout at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Starpulse

New hints of an X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover movie

Could an X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover movie be in the offing? It’s certainly being considered, a new report claims…
Den of Geek

 

January 6

Egyptian debut director Hany Fawzy fears for film on homosexuality

Screenwriter of Family Secrets says censors’ 13 changes turn protagonist’s affair with a man into a romance-free friendship.
The Guardian

Actor Uday Kiran found dead, was ‘depressed’ over not getting roles

Apparently depressed over not getting films for nearly one year, young Telugu actor Uday Kiran committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday night, police said Monday. The 33-year-old, who acted in 19 films includingthree Tamil movies
Hindustan Times

Saunders will write Ab Fab movie

January 3

McQueen Slams Hollywood For ‘Ignoring Slavery’

The British director of 12 Years A Slave has criticised Hollywood for avoiding slavery as a subject matter for movies.
Sky News

Croydon cinema group launches January film season

A cinema group has launched its January season of films.
Croydon Guardian

Farooque Sheikh’s last film Club 60 releases again

PVR Cinemas has decided to pay tribute to the late actor in a rather heart warming gesture.
Bollywood Life

The First ‘Veronica Mars’ Movie Trailer After $5 Million Kickstarter Campaign

Kristen Bell is back as “Veronica Mars” in the first full trailer for the one-time TV show’s new feature-length film.
Business Insider

January 2

Mannerheim film’s losses in the millions

The beleaguered Finnish mega-production Mannerheim has incurred debts of nearly seven million euros, as revealed by the bankrupt’s estate administration. Dozens of creditors await money from Liberty Production, the company set up for the film.
Yle Uutiset

The Wolf of Wall Street criticised for ‘glorifying psychopathic behaviour’

Christina McDowell, daughter of a business associate of Jordan Belfort, accuses Martin Scorsese of glamorising financial fraud.
The Guardian

Sandra Bullock to make comedy film

Her role as Annie Johnson in the 1959 film Imitation of Life led to an Oscar nomination — just the fifth at that time for a black actor or actress. Moore was 99 when she died on Wednesday.
Nation & World News

 

December 20

Thangameengal, Haridas win top laurels at CIFF

Tamil films Thangameengal and Haridas on Thursday won the best film and the second-best film awards in the competition section of the 11th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF).
Hindustan Times

Ben Stiller says Zoolander 2 is “on hold”.

The actor-and-director has been planning a sequel to his hit 2001 male model comedy for several years, but he admits the film has hit a roadblock as he wants the film to feel current.
Shortlist

The Expendables 3 new stellar lineup introduced in teaser

Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross and his old crew line up for duty along with his younger generation of mercenaries.
PanArmenian

Quentin Tarantino: No plans for Kill Bill 3

Quentin Tarantino claims he has no intention of revisiting the ‘Kill Bill’ series despite previous suggestions he would do a follow-up.
Contact Music

 

December 19

Paul Rudd to play Ant-Man in new film

Paul Rudd will star as Ant-Man, the latest Marvel comic book hero to get the big screen treatment.
BBC

Shia LaBeouf could face legal action for lifting idea

There may be legal ramifications for Shia LaBeouf after he acknowledged borrowing from another artist’s work without giving proper credit.
Seattlepi.com

2013: The best Bollywood stories of the year

IBNLive examines the most creative Bollywood films of 2013
IBNLive

The Wolf of Wall Street’s star Leonardo DiCaprio chased Scorsese to direct warped comedy

Usually, Martin Scorsese pursues Leonardo DiCaprio to do a movie. Roles were reversed for The Wolf of Wall Street when DiCaprio hunted down Scorsese.
The Calgary Herald

 

December 18

Library of Congress announces 2013 National Film Registry selections

The Library of Congress have announced the addition of 25 films to its National Film Registry, a growing archive of American motion pictures earmarked for preservation.
The Washington Post

Hollywood stars sign petition against Iceland film cuts

A number of renowned Hollywood filmmakers including Terence Malick, Darren Aronofsky and Clint Eastwood have signed a petition against the Icelandic government’s proposed 40 per cent cuts on the Icelandic Film Fund.
Ice News

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner to star opposite Ray Liotta in new film

Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in ‘Game of Thrones’, is to appear in the film ‘Alone’ with Ray Liotta.
The Telegraph

Tarantino: I wanted to quit movies

Quentin Tarantino has revealed that he once considered quitting the movie-making business.
The Independent

 

December 17

Thompson to narrate Reitman’s film

Emma Thompson has joined the cast of Jason Reitman’s next film, Men, Women And Children.
Yahoo

Dave Sitek offers to provide music for next James Bond film

TV on The Radio producer also urges producers to cast Idris Elba in lead role
NME

1940s film noir actress Audrey Totter dies at 95

Audrey Totter, a blond leading lady of 1940s film noir who starred as a tough-talking dame in “Lady in the Lake,” dies at 95.
LA Times

Matthew Perry returning to TV in The Odd Couple revamp

The actor, who has starred in a series of flops following his days on Friends, is hoping his new role as grumpy Oscar Madison will be another hit.
Daily Express

 

December 16

Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine dies aged 96

The star of Hitchcock’s Rebecca and Suspicion, sister of Olivia de Havilland, died in her sleep at home in California
BBC

Emilia Clarke cast in Terminator reboot

The Game Of Thrones actress has been cast as Sarah Connor - the part originally played by Linda Hamilton - after impressing film bosses with her audition.
Belfast Telegraph

People who don’t know what Mandela looked like were responsible for 8% of tweets about his death

A number of users confused Nelson Mandela and Morgan Freeman, likely due to Freeman’s appearance as him in rugby film Invictus.
The Guardian

Mark Millar’s ‘Starlight’ Heads to FOX

The studio will adapt the Kick-Ass creator’s upcoming superhero miniseries
Latino Review

 

December 13

Warner Bros reveals Joe Wright’s Peter Pan film Pan will be released in 2015 opposite Ted 2

Warner Bros have revealed that Pan will roll out in cinemas in June 2015.
Metro

Actor Will Ferrell fails to see the funny side after Kanye West’s aggro on set of new Anchorman film

The rapper has a seconds-long cameo in Anchorman 2 but in an interview Ferrell revealed West declined to leave the set after filming his bit.
The Daily Record

James Bond’s average alcohol consumption was ‘92 units per week’

James Bond consumed four times the recommended weekly alcohol limit while serving his country putting him at risk of liver disease and impotence, researchers find.
The Telegraph

22 films to be screened at Kashmir International Film Festival

The valley will host its first film festival in more than 23 years.
Indian Express

 

December 12

Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises Wins San Diego Film Critics Society Award

Film previously won critic prizes in Boston, New York.
Anime News Network

Sandra Bullock to star in George Clooney-produced film?

Sandra Bullock is reportedly teaming up with her ‘Gravity’ co-star George Clooney again as the actress is in early talks to star in Clooney-produced ‘Our Brand Is Crisis’.
Business Standard

Jackson swings towards Tarzan film?

Samuel L Jackson is in talks to star in the Tarzan reboot.
Belfast Telegraph

Weinstein brothers sue Time Warner over ‘Hobbit’ films

Movie producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein have sued Time Warner Inc for at least $75 million over its decision to divide the screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Hobbit” into three parts.
Reuters

 

December 11

Lost Peter Sellers films to be screened at festival

Two “lost” films starring actor Peter Sellers are to be shown in public for the first time in more than 50 years.
BBC News

Sainsbury’s Christmas film garners 800,000 views

Sainsbury’s festive ad campaign to promote its feature film Christmas In A Day has been viewed by 800,000 people since it was posted to YouTube last Friday (29 November).
Marketing Week

‘Fast And Furious 7’ Film: Justin Bieber to Replace Paul Walker?

There are speculations that the “Baby” singer can become the part of the racing car franchise.
International Business Times

Pakistani court stops airing of Indian, foreign films on TV

A Pakistani court has stopped the screening of foreign films, serials and television shows, especially Indian content, on the country’s TV channels, triggering panic and outrage among exhibitors and viewers.
The Hindu

 

December 10

Home Alone voted the number one Christmas film of all time

Home Alone was today voted the number one Christmas film of all time in a poll conducted by TalkTalk TV.
South West News Service

Dwarf-Tossing, Three-Way with Teen Employee Never Happened, Says Real “Wolf of Wall Street” Exec

According to the ex-president of the firm depicted in the bestselling memoir and new film, “the book…is a distant relative of the truth, and the film is a distant relative of the book.”
Mother Jones

Adam Sandler Tops Forbes’ 2013 List Of The Most Overpaid Actors

The Happy Gilmore star gave less return on his wage than any other actor on the list.
Forbes

Eleanor Parker Dead: ‘Sound Of Music’ Actress Dies At 91

Eleanor Parker, who was nominated for Academy Awards three times for her portrayals of strong-willed women and played a scheming baroness in “The Sound of Music,” has died at 91.
The Huffington Post

 

December 9

Edouard Molinaro, French Film Director, Dies at 85

Edouard Molinaro, who received an Oscar nomination for directing the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles, which was remade in the United States as The Birdcage and as a Broadway musical, died on Saturday in Paris.
The New York Times

Grown Ups 2 tops list of 2013’s worst films

Grown Ups 2, starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, has beaten The Host and Salinger to be named worst film of 2013 by Time Magazine.
Time

Disney gets right to Indiana Jones

Disney has bought the rights to all future Indiana Jones movies.
The Irish Independent

Paul Walker fans gather at crash site for tribute

5,000 fans, friends and car enthusiasts attend a rally at site where Fast & Furious actor was killed in crash.
The Guardian

 

 

December 6

2 Guns film sequel in the pipeline

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg could be back in a sequel to their action film 2 Guns.
Belfast Telegraph

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou faces $164 million lawsuit for having too many children

Famed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou is being sued by two lawyers for breaking China’s one-child policy, in what they are calling a protest against rich people flouting the rules.
680 News

Filming in Medina underway for a new Robert Englund horror film

Some of the folks who made a Katie Holmes movie in Cleveland this summer thought Ohio was so nice, they came back
Ohio.com

‘X-Men Apocalypse’: Bryan Singer announces 2016 mutant sequel

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” director Bryan Singer appears to have announced, via Twitter, that another installment in the mutant franchise, “X-Men Apocalypse,” is due for release in 2016.
LA Times

 

December 5

Vast majority of Hollywood silent films lost forever, study confirms

Studios failed to archive early films properly leading to huge losses due to fire and deterioration.
The Guardian

Going postal: Ronan Keating to voice Postman Pat in new movie

Boyzone star Ronan Keating has been added to the cast of Postman Pat: The Movie - playing the singing voice of the cheery postie.
Independent.ie

Gal Gadot cast as Wonder Woman for blockbuster Batman and Superman film

Israel-born actress Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.’ superhero team-up film with Batman and Superman.
Globe and Mail

Navi Mumbai set to host its first international film fest

Navi Mumbai, known as the satellite city to Mumbai, is set to host its first ever Film Festival named Navi Mumbai International Film Festival (NMIFF).
Vancouverdesi.com

 

December 2

Sin City TV series to follow next movie

Sin City, The Mist and Scream are all heading to the small screen, courtesy of The Weinstein Company…
Den of Geek

Artist paid £25 for a box of movie stars photographs that could be worth THOUSANDS

A man who paid £25 for two dusty files of photos of old movie stars has been told they could be worth thousands.
SWNS

Television actor Trishalawho essayed Pinky’s role in the Hindi serial ‘Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki’ and has done Marathi serials like ‘Ya Gojirwanya Gharat’, ‘Don Kinaare Doghi Aapan’ and ‘Bandh Reshmache’ has landed her first Marathi film.
Times of India

Director turns to crowdfunding to make Japanese anti-nuclear film

Japanese film director Takafumi Ota had a problem. He needed studio financing for a film that was harshly critical of the nuclear industry in the aftermath of Fukushima, but no one was interested in funding his project the traditional way.
Arab News

Novemeber 28

Film studios looking to social media to help predict hits

With the traditional system for forecasting hits, known as “tracking,” under fire, the film industry is increasingly turning to social media and other online signposts to help figure out what will resonate with audiences.
New York Post

Arya-Santhanam-Rajesh Teaming up for New Film, Likely to Commence by June 2014

The successful combo of Arya-Santhanam-Rajesh is teaming up once again for a new film.
International Business Times

Forbes worst performing films of 2013

Among the top 10 box office turkeys of 2013 are a few Australian connections.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Report warns of state of Scottish film industry

The fragile state of Scotland’s film industry has been laid bare in a damning new report leaked to The Scotsman.
The Scotsman

 

November 27

Why are women always being kidnapped in films?

Penelope Cruz in The Counsellor is the latest in a long line of heroines who exist only to be kidnapped and make the man who loves her feel bad.
The Telegraph

Maltese Falcon sells for $4m at auction

A statuette of a bird featured in the classic 1941 film The Maltese Falcon has sold for over $4 million (£2.5 million) at auction in New York.
The Independent

Arjun Kapoor begins preparation for ‘Okkadu’ remake

‘Ishaqzaade’ actor Arjun Kapoor, who had a decent year as far as his films are concerned, is geared up for a more eventful 2014.
Times of India

Doctor Who enters UK film top three

Cinema screenings of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode made it the third biggest draw at the UK box office over the weekend.
BBC News

 

November 26

Independent cinema on the rise in India

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s Pixar studio is eliminating jobs after deciding to delay next year’s theatrical release “The Good Dinosaur.”
Bloomberg

November 25

Kashmir University students disrupt shooting of Vishal Bhardwaj film

Film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj was forced to pack up after a group of Kashmir University students disrupted shooting of a sequence of a fidayeen attack for his upcoming movie Haider.
The Hindu

DGA board approves film and TV contract

The national board of the Directors Guild of America on Saturday voted in favor of a new three-year film and TV contract that includes proposed increases in wages, residuals and significant new pay terms for work in new media.
Los Angeles Times

Richard Attenborough’s dream of film about first black flying ace is saved

IT WAS to be the swan song of Lord Richard Attenborough’s illustrious directing career that began in 1969 with the satirical musical Oh, What A Lovely War! and which produced such Oscar-winning classics as Young Winston, Gandhi and Cry Freedom.
Express

JRR Tolkien film biopic in the pipeline

Fox Searchlight, which was behind last year’s Hitchcock film, is developing a biopic about Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.
BBC News

 

November 22

Harry Potter star to play ‘Amanda Knox’ character in new movie

Actress Genevieve Gaunt, who appeared as Pansy Parkinson, appears as Miss Knox in forthcoming film based on the murder of Meredith Kercher.
The Telegraph

Star power sometimes overshadows movie content: Anil Sharma

Director Anil Sharma feels that stars set the cash registers ringing at the box office but sometimes a film’s content gets eclipsed by them.
Indian Express

Ken Loach backs Nuneaton Ritz cinema restoration plan

Acclaimed director Ken Loach has backed £5m plans to restore a Grade II listed art deco cinema in Nuneaton.
BBC News

Pakistan restricts screening of films from India

The move to ban the popular Bollywood productions, which dwarf the number of Pakistani films produced, isn’t sitting well with moviegoers.
The L.A Times

November 21

De Niro in familiar territory as he links up with old friends

He may be one of cinema’s authentic acting legends but Robert De Niro also has a reputation for being notoriously reticent with the press.
Herald Scotland

I am itching to direct a film: Sunny Deol

Bollywood star Sunny Deol says he is yearning to go behind the camera again, but his dream would take a year or two to take off.
India Today

Irish Film Festival opens in London

Dramas, documentaries, animations, comedies and real-life inspirational tales to be screened over five days.
The Irish Times

New film commissioner announced

A unit still photographer who has worked on the sets of movies, including “Legally Blonde,” “Meet the Fockers” and “Remember the Titans,” and is a former National Football League kicker, has been named the new Maui County film commissioner.
Maui Weekly

 

November 20

Former film chief Kim Williams calls for production subsidies review

Kim Williams, one-time head of the Australian Film Commission and founding chairman of the Film Finance Corporation (now Screen Australia), has compared Australia’s film and television producers to farmers and the motor industry, saying they are overly dependent on subsidies for their survival.
Sydney Morning Herald

New Film, Protests Highlight Disappearances In Pakistan

A new short film, “The Line of Freedom,” hopes to shed light on this largely forgotten crisis. It depicts the story of a Baloch activist who was abducted and tortured and then dumped after being shot.
Radio Free Europe

Mizoram film industry hopes for development with new government

Swamped by Korean films dubbed in Mizo language, the film industry in Mizoram hopes that whichever party comes to power after polls should allocate more funds for its development.
IBN Live

Spike Lee: ‘Good karma made kickstarter film funding campaign a big success’

Filmmaker SPIKE LEE believes the success of his recent Kickstarter.com campaign to fun his new movie is all down to good karma, because he has donated large cash amounts to help other directors get projects off the ground.
Express

 

November 19

Walt Disney’s chain-smoking habit that new film ‘Saving Mr Banks’ hides from view

Walt Disney was known to be an inveterate chain smoker, a habit which led to the lung cancer that would eventually kill him. Yet thanks to his own studio’s ban on screen smoking, a new film about the late Hollywood mogul will not depict him lighting up once.
The Independent

Make Turing film true to life, urges his niece

Inagh Payne expressed concerns about The Imitation Game, to be released next year, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing and Keira Knightley as his friend Joan Clarke.
Manchester Evening News

Twitter Co-Founder Channels Poe’s ‘Raven’ in ‘Evermore’ Short Film

In his short film, Evermore, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone taps into Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven to tell a story of familial devastation and rebirth.
Mashable.com

Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor set to appear in a film by the guys behind Google ad film, Reunion

The Reunion ad maker has been signed to direct Sonakshi and Arjun in a South remake.
Daily News and Analysis

 

November 18

Adult content in German film blacked out

Following reports of adult content finding its way into films screened for children, Sunday saw a blackout for nearly five minutes midway through the screening of a German film.
The Times of India

Susan Boyle: Meryl Streep has been asked to play me on film

Meryl Streep looks set to dust off her pearls and perm after Susan Boyle let slip that the Iron Lady star has been asked to play her in a new film.
Metro

The Runners: why we interviewed people jogging for a film

Would people be more open about their lives if interviewed while jogging? One pair of film-makers decided to find out.
The Guardian

Angola: Luanda Film Festival Kicks Off

The sixth edition of the capital city’s International Film Festival (FIC-Luanda) kicked off last Friday, in Atlântico cinema.
AllAfrica.com

 

November 15

Paul Scholes emerges as unlikely star as new Manchester United film is revealed

Although The Class of 92 pitches itself as a reasonably straightforward football documentary, in many ways it sits firmly in the time-honoured canon of the Hollywood buddy movie.
Independent.ie

Temple Run Movie in the Works by Warner Bros and Harry Potter Producer

Temple Run is going to be making a big screen debut trough Warner Bros. and Harry Potter producer David Heyman. The popular free to play game may be recognizable enough to gain a box office draw, but barely has enough to story make a 90 minute feature length film.
TechnoBuffalo

MPAA recommends cracking down on camera-phones, using night-vision goggles to prevent movie piracy

In its latest attempt to crack down on piracy, the Motion Picture Association of America is pressuring movie theaters to adopt a ban on mobile phones with cameras and certain kinds of eyeglasses.
RT USA

Movie rating ruckus gets rougher as motion picture association defends system

Under increasing pressure over its threshold for violence in PG-13 films, the Motion Picture Association of America defended its often-criticized rating system on Wednesday.
Vancouver Sun

 

November 14

Ring Road Shubha: Kannada film industry’s first all women crew film

A film conceived, written, directed, edited and produced - all by women. In a first for Sandalwood, an all-women crew is set to roll out their film ‘Ring Road Shuba’ in January next year.
IBN Live

Malayalam film to be launched through crowd funding

In a first such initiative in the Malayalam film industry, a movie Oraalpokkam, is being launched through the funding from crowd.
First Post

Anime Robot Cat Doraemon Enters 3rd Dimension in 1st 3D CG Film

The iconic anime robot cat Doraemon will gain another dimension in Stand By Me Doraemon, his first 3D feature film ever, next summer.
Anime News Network

Anil Kapoor to produce a Marathi film

Anil Kapoor is keen to produce a Marathi film.
The Times of India

 

November 13

Hayao Miyazaki out of retirement, again, for manga comic

The Steven Soderbergh of the Japanese animation world, Hayao Miyazaki, is reportedly out of retirement for at least the second time, working on a period-set manga comic.
The Guardian

China Image Film Festival kicks off in London

The 5th China Image Film Festival opened here on Tuesday to give the British people an opportunity to watch 20 Chinese new films, including crime movie Silent Witness, romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right and cartoon movie Kuiba II.
Xinhua China Weekly

Film directors protest at Iran’s embassy in Sweden

A group of international film directors are protesting outside Iran’s embassy in Stockholm against that government’s censorship of Iranian film maker Mohammad Rasoulof.
Miami Herald

Ram-leela: Sanjay Bhansali’s Film Stokes New Controversy Over Title; Court Stays Release

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film “Ram-leela” has landed into another controversy. After drawing much ire from the Rajput community over its content, the film is now in trouble over the title.
International Business Times

 

November 12

Film Critic J. Hoberman Named New York Times Video Columnist

Film critic J. Hoberman will become the video columnist at The New York Times, the newspaper announced in a short item in yesterday’s Arts & Leisure section.
New York Observer

200 films from 48 countries for children’s film festival

About 200 films from 48 countries will be screened in the 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India to be held here from November 14.
The Hindu

John Barnett: Film industry needs more top producers

Auckland film crews have taken to the media to highlight the fall off in Large Budget TV projects coming to the area and the consequent impact on the sector.
The New Zealand Herald

Film Group Backs Antipiracy Curriculum for Schools

When it comes to learning about the evils of Internet piracy, Hollywood studios and the major music labels want kids to start young.
ABC News

 

November 11

Film Fest brings much loved French filmmaker back

Catherine Breillat’s film initiated a fight for tickets in the 2004 festival. This year, Kolkata is set to witness the fighter’s tale, again.
India Times

Not in Bruges – Belgian mayor’s crackdown on shooting film

Mayor Renaat Landuyt could well have had Colin Farrell’s inept assassin Ray in mind when he decided that the medieval city of Bruges should be a little more discerning about how it is portrayed on celluloid.
Irish Independent

Film auteur Agnes Varda marks her California return with artful glee

The LACMA exhibition ‘Agnes Varda in Californialand’ traces the French filmmaker’s time in the Golden State and her merging of art and life.
Los Angeles Times

Africa film festival aims to be continent’s Cannes

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) opens in Nigeria on Sunday and although it is still in its infancy, organisers hope that with time it can become the continent’s Cannes.
GMA News

 

November 8

PlayStation plans cinema promotion using new tech

PlayStation will be the first brand to use the ‘cinime’ app, developed to engage cinema audiences with brands via “second screen” interaction, for a national campaign.
Marketing Week

Novemeber 7

Star Wars sequel: Open auditions to be held in UK

The casting sessions for Star Wars: Episode VII will start later this week at locations around the UK and Ireland.
BBC News

Swedish cinemas introduce ‘feminism rating’ for films

Cinemas in Sweden have begun to issue ratings for films depending on how they portray women: whether there are named female characters, who speak together, and whether they discuss something other than a man.
The Telegraph

Munich art find mirrors Clooney and Damon film on search for Nazi loot

The sensational discovery is the biggest since the disbandment of the WWII Monuments Men unit portrayed in an upcoming, star-studded Hollywood film.
Haaretz

 

November 6

Motley Crue to get biography film

Motley Crue are set to get a film made about them which will be directed by Bad Grandpa’s Jeff Tremaine.
Belfast Telegraph

2013 Japanese Film Festival to be held in Bahrain

The Japanese Embassy to the Kingdom of Bahrain, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, holds the 2013 Japanese Film Festival at the Hall of the Bahrain National Museum.
Bahrain News

Myanmar Cinema: Domestic Film Villains No Longer In Demand As More Western Films Are Shown

Myanmar’s opening is good news for almost everyone – except for actors who played villains in domestic film productions who are suddenly out of work, as Western films invade the Southeast Asian nation, along with the bigger and badder bad guys in them.
International Business Times

All Sports Film Festival works up a sweat in North Hollywood

The fifth annual All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival comes to the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood Friday. Some 54 movies from 11 countries will screen through the weekend.
Los Angeles Daily News

 

November 5

Famous ‘Dead Island’ trailer recreated in live-action film

Fans of “Dead Island” have created a live-action version of a stunning short film that was first released in 2011 to help promote the zombie video game.
NBC News

Three top studios are vying for Salman Khan next film

Disney-UTV, whose last Chennai Express starred SRK, are keen to release Salman’s next.
Daily News and Analysis India

Fefsi to ask for revival of Film City

The Federation will also request the CM to provide tax concessions for filming in the State
The Hindu

Pontchartrain Film Festival kicks off Friday; ‘Warehouse on Tchoupitoulas’ among films to screen

Slidell’s Pontchartrain Film Festival returns for its second year this weekend, bringing three days of films, workshops and discussions to eastern St. Tammany Parish.
The Times-Picayune

 

November 4

Man who led searches for bodies unhappy with film’s treatment of special commission

The RTÉ/BBC Northern Ireland film The Disappeared has great impact and is “very disturbing” but it ought to have contained greater reference to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, claims the man closely involved in the search for the Disappeared.
Irish Times

Kannada film director Rajendra Babu dies

BANGALORE: Well-known Kannada film director D Rajendra Babu passed away in Bangalore on Sunday. The actor was 62.
Times of India

Film explores Jasper Mountain

The documentary, “Once Upon a Mountain,” opens the Eugene International Film Festival this week.
The Register-Guard

The Boston Jewish Film Festival at 25

That artistic independence and commitment to diversity still drives the Boston Jewish Film Festival as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The Boston Globe

 

November 1

Luc Besson slams Taiwan paparazzi

French film director Luc Besson has slammed paparazzi in Taiwan for interfering with the shooting of his latest film, but denied reports that he considered leaving the island early to underscore his disgust over their actions.
Independent.ie

Bill Murray signs up for supernatural comedy

Bill Murray and Seth Rogen have signed up for ‘BOO: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations’.
Virgin Movies

Deadpool Movie Closer To Green Light, Script Revised

A week ago Ryan Reynolds indicated that the Deadpool movie had recently taken some tiptoes forward. Now, Tim Miller, who is the director attached to the project, has also indicated things are moving forward.
Comicbook.com

Sony profit forecast cut after loss

The flop of action movie White House Down added to earnings woes at Sony in the latest quarter, dragging the entertainment and electronics giant to a 19.3 billion yen (£122 million) loss.
Belfast Telegraph

 

October 31

Ukraine film festival targeted by anti-LGBT protesters

Molodist festival hit by placard-waving picketers complaining about ‘gay propaganda’.
The Guardian

David Cronenberg exhibit of strange film artifacts comes to TIFF

Props from ‘The Fly,’ ‘Dead Ringers’ on display.
CBC News

TCM to air cult classic horror film ‘Freaks’ for Halloween

Tonight on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) we get a relatively rare chance to view Tod Browning’s 1932 cult-classic horror film “Freaks.”
The Washington Times

Outlander TV show ‘will secure Scots film future’

A VAST TV and film studio complex will be a permanent legacy of Scotland’s answer to hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, under plans announced by the owner of the industrial site where filming has just started.
The Scotsman

 

October 30

Justin Timberlake film ‘In Time’ prompts plagiarism suit

Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency have been sued by a Greek screenwriter alleging the companies stole his idea and used it for the 2011 Justin Timberlake film “In Time.”
Chicago Tribune

Doug Ellin Says ‘Entourage’ Film Is ‘A Go’

Series creator Doug Ellin says a long-planned “Entourage” movie is finally “a go.”
Huffington Post

GI Film Festival brings military movie mind-set to Burbank

The GI Film Festival is saluting Los Angeles for the second time this Friday and Saturday on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, a worthy reprise after years of playing the nation’s capital.
Long Beach Press Telegram

Vancouver doctor’s film script about cancer survivor hits the big screen

Story of medical breakthrough winning awards at film festivals.
Vancouver Sun

 

October 29

Film planned of Susan Boyle’s life, singer tells fans

A film is being planned about Susan Boyle’s rise to fame, she has told fans at a press conference.
BBC

Ranbir Kapoor to inaugurate children’s film fest

Actor Ranbir Kapoor will be inaugurating the 18th International Children’s Film Festival, India (ICFFI), popularly known as The Golden Elephant, to be held in Hyderabad from Nov 14.
Daily News and Analysis India

Middleburg Film Festival is like an itty-bitty Cannes, with a few stars amid the foliage

If Robert Redford sees the potential for a film festival, it’s probably wise to take note. So that’s exactly what Sheila Johnson did a few years ago, when Redford visited the 340-acre Middleburg, Va., spread where she was planning to build the Salamander Resort.
The Washington Post

Manga UK Licenses Live-Action Hentai Kamen Film

Manga Entertainment UK announced during MCM London Comic Con this past weekend that it licensed the live-action HK/Hentai Kamen film under the title Forbidden Super Hero.
Anime News Network

 

October 28

Second extortion attempt reported on Transformers 4 Hong Kong film set

A man has been arrested on suspicion of blackmail.
The Independent

Wachowskis Hope to Surprise With Next Film

The Wachowski siblings say they’re hoping to again surprise audiences with the science-fiction movie “Jupiter Ascending,” starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis.
ABC News

Hal Needham, stuntman and action film director, dies at 82

Hal Needham, a veteran Hollywood stuntman who later embarked on a less risky career as a director of action movies including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Cannonball Run,” both of which starred his friend Burt Reynolds, died Friday in Los Angeles.
Dallas News

Media circus forces Luc Besson film out of Taiwan

French director Luc Besson has wrapped up location shooting in Taipei ahead of schedule for his latest film Lucy after becoming fed up with the intrusion of local media.
China Times

 

October 25

Abrams and Kasdan Take Over Writing of New ‘Star Wars’ Movie

Lucasfilm on Thursday said that Michael Arndt would be replaced as the screenwriter of “Star Wars: Episode VII,” which is scheduled to begin filming in the spring, for a planned 2015 release.
New York Times

Plan for $50m film studio in Perth

It is an ambitious goal, but a Perth film producer believes he can build WA’s first film studio within the next three years.
The West Australian

Indian media pay tributes to legendary singer Manna Dey

Media in India are paying rich tributes to legendary Bollywood singer Manna Dey, who died on Thursday.
BBC News

October 24

Colin Farrell to be honored at tribute, more films added to festival lineup

Colin Farrell, one of the leads in the new film “Saving Mr. Banks,” to be screened next month at the third annual Napa Valley Film Festival, will be honored as part of a special tribute program.
Napa Valley Register

RIDM goes around the world in 135 films

Documentary festival takes a typically wide-ranging approach.
The Montreal Gazette

Centre alone can suspend screening of films certified by Censor Board: panel

Empathising with film-makers confronted with demands for a ban on their films by “vested groups, fringe elements” as in the case of Vishwaroopam and Madras Cafe in the recent past, the Empowered Committee on film certification has mandated that no State government can order the suspension of a film.
The Hindu

Kamkwamba documentary wins international film award

William and the Windmill, a documentary that traces the life of a young Malawian William Kamkwamba who teaches himself to build a power-generating windmill from junk parts, successfully rescuing his family from poverty and famine, was presented with the Best Documentary Feature Award at the Flyway Film Festival in Wisconsin, USA on Sunday.
Nyasa Times

 

October 23

Benedict Cumberbatch front-runner to play George Mallory in Hollywood film, Everest

The Sherlock star is rumoured to be favourite to play British climber who died attempting to be the first man to climb Mount Everest
The Telegraph

Avatar shoot in NZ uncertain as film industry slumps

After the success of movies like The Lord of the Rings and Avatar, the New Zealand film industry is now facing crippling losses.
TVNZ

Tribeca Film Festival sues developer over Pier 57 renovation

The film festival filed court papers against Young Woo & Associates, saying the developer reneged on partnership in which the event could utilize space and would secure naming rights to the overhaul taking place on W. 15th St. and 11th Ave. But Tribeca says Young Woo backed out of the deal in order to make more profit from the endeavor.
New York Daily News

Everest film makes NZ premiere

A New Zealand feature film of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s ascent of Mt Everest in 1953 was well received at its official opening in Wellington on Tuesday night.
Radio New Zealand

 

October 22

Marvel Boss Says Female Superhero Film Won’t Happen Before 2016

Don’t expect to see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow have her own movie before 2016. That’s the word from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, who told Movies.com that the company was not adding any other features to its current roster for the foreseeable future.
The Huffington Post

Sultan opens first Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival

Children’s films a mirror that enables to see society, Shaikha Jawaher remarks.
Gulf News

Film Director Urges Japan to Improve Nuclear Power

Dressed in white hazmat coveralls and carrying a dosimeter, documentary film director Robert Stone ventured into the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant’s exclusion zone a year after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns in three reactors.
ABC News

Jenni Fagan clinches deal for The Panopticon film

A SCOTTISH author who shot to fame with her debut novel last year has clinched a deal to see it turned into a major feature film.
The Scotsman

 

October 21

Thor’s Natalie Portman: London rivals Hollywood

Two stars of superhero sequel praise UK capital as leading film location after completing most work at Shepperton.
The Guardian

Film Festival puts philanthropy on the big screen

The Washington West Film Festival is scheduled to debut a range of independent movies, documentaries and short films this week at Reston Bow Tie Cinemas that attempt to capture the human condition.
The Washington Post

Simi Garewal to direct a film soon

Veteran actress Simi Garewal is planning to go behind the camera to direct a film.
India Today

Historians hired to expose film fibs

Hollywood studios are recruiting academics as “history assassins” to help them undermine rival studios’ Oscar-contending films.
The Australian

 

October 18

October 17

Destroyed film renewed for 40th

When John Weiley’s documentary about the construction of the Sydney Opera House was destroyed by the BBC in 1968, he thought he may never see it again.
The Australian

Kumar Pallana, Who Went From Yoga to Film, Dies at 94

Kumar Pallana, an Indian plate spinner turned Texas yoga instructor turned — in his late 70s and long beyond — sought-after character actor in films by Wes Anderson, Steven Spielberg and others, died on Thursday at his home in Oakland, Calif. He was 94.
The New York Times

Theatre’s closing leaves Victoria Film Festival scrambling for new venue and equipment

One of the Victoria Film Festival’s major screening venues has closed its doors for good – leaving festival organizers with less than four months to secure a new location and raise funds for a pricey piece of equipment in time for its 20th anniversary.
The Globe and Mail

Darren Aronofksy ‘fighting with studio’ over Noah epic

Mixed reactions at test screenings for key demographics credited for wrangle over final cut of Biblical epic starring Russell Crowe as the ark-man.
The Guardian

 

October 16

The Arab Film Festival visits Los Angeles on Friday through Sunday

The Arab Film Festival, which opens Friday at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Los Angeles and continues through Oct. 20, is the largest independent annual showcase of Arab films and filmmakers in the United States.
Los Angeles Times

Live-Action Kamen Teacher Drama Gets Film Next Year

Adaptation of Tohru Fujisawa’s manga to open on February 22
Anime News Network

Actor in Brad Pitt film ‘stabbed with bayonet’ on set

An actor has been airlifted to hospital from the set of Brad Pitt’s new World War II film after reportedly being stabbed with a bayonet.
The Telegraph

Tax changes in budget seeks to enhance Ireland’s attractiveness as film destination

Salaries for Hollywood stars to be used to lower tax bill for productions shot in Ireland
The Irish Times