Small MPU – Page 256
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Regent partners up for new German film fund
US producer Regent Entertainment (Gods And Monsters) and German production outfit A.C.H. GmbH Production have been lined up as two of the co-production partners for the new Munich-based "blind pool" film fund: Christopher Filmcapital. Structured as five separate tranches, raising up to Euros 30m each, Christopher Filmcapital has been launched ...
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Becker Entertainment tempted by Bennett's thriller
Becker Entertainment has acquired Australasian rights to local writer/director Bill Bennett's US film Tempted from TF1 and will release it early next year. The sexual thriller about betrayal, passion and deceit was shot entirely on location in the stately homes and surrounding swamps of New Orleans. Peter Facinelli plays a ...
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New UK film studio in development
The UK's The Full Picture Company has announced plans for a £66m film studio in the southwest of England, although the venture is yet to secure planning approval or reveal any backers.The company, chaired by Academy Award-winning Bond and Titanic production designer Peter Lamont, proposes a range of ambitious facilites ...
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Cinegroupe launches live action division
Montreal-based animation producer and distributor CineGroupe has given a name and a face to its new live-action arm, first announced in January (Screendaily Jan. 29). The new unit, CineGroupe Images, will be headed by Robin Spry, former president and CEO of Telescene Film Group, the Montreal production company which foundered ...
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Swiss distributors, Columbus and Vega, join forces
Swiss distributors Columbus Film and Vega Distribution are to co-operate for joint booking and billing of their releases. Columbus and Vega will retain their independence and continue to handle their own marketing and PR campaigns separately. Among the first releases are the Locarno competition film Happiness Is A Warm Gun ...
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Scarfies producer Lisa Chatfield joins NZFC board
Wellington-based producer Lisa Chatfield is one of three new members appointed to the board of the New Zealand Film Commission. Chatfield produced the 1997 film Scarfies, the fourth biggest local hit in the last decade. Arts patron, former exhibitor and producer of the 1993 film Desperate Remedies, James Wallace, and ...
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Fallen Australian media baron Skase dies in exile
Christopher Skase, thebuccaneering Australian businessman who briefly acquired the MGM/UA studiobefore running into bankruptcy and becoming an international fugitive, died onSunday on the Spanish island of Majorca. He was 52."I can confirm he hasdied, it was a mixture of everything, emphysema, cancer, the works,"Majorca Daily Bulletin editor and family friend ...
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$30bn EchoStar bid for DirecTV challenges Murdoch
US satellite TV operatorDirecTV may end up costing far more than Rupert Murdoch had bargained for nowthat rival EchoStar Communications has weighed in with a surprise $30.4bncompeting bid.The news immediately tookits toll on shares of Murdoch's News Corp which fell by more than 3% inearly trading on the Australian stock ...
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Canal Plus, UPC merge Polish pay-TV platforms
Vivendi Universal and Dutch cable operator UPC are this week expected to merge their pay-TV platforms in Poland.The long-anticipated move will give the country a single pay-operator and potentially allow the unified platform a chance to achieve profitability faster than if the two were in direct competition.A spokesman at Canal ...
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Branson's Virgin Cinemas set to expand in Japan
Virgin Cinemas is to launch two new multiplexes in Japan as part of an aggressive expansion plan for the territory that will see Richard Branson's exhibition interests reach 18 sites by 2004.The first site, a nine-screen cinema in suburban Tokyo is set for a December launch, while a 10-screener at ...
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Constantin rules German independent distribution
German independent distributor Constantin Film has re-asserted its status as the most successful distributor of German films this year, largely due to the phenomenal performance of local Western spoof, Der Schuh Des Manitu.After only 18 days on release, the film, which was co-produced by Constantin Film's in-house production arm, has ...
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Wild Beauty enchants Korean audiences
Korean romantic comedy A Wild Beauty, directed by Kwak Jae-yong, is enjoying runaway success in its home territory, having grossed a nationwide total of $8.9 million in its first ten days on release. The film has tied the record set by Korea's all-time box office champion Friend in ...
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Prix Italia to collaborate with NATPE and CBS
NATPE president Bruce Johansen and PBS chief Pat Mitchell will be guest speakers at the 53rd edition of the Prix Italia, the prestigious international television and radio awards held annually in Italy, following a long-term collaboration agreement sealed by the US television market and Prix Italia. As a result of ...
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Vatican invites world premiere of Polish Quo Vadis
The world premier of Polish blockbuster Quo Vadis has been set for a rare special gala screening before the Pope in the Vatican on 30 August. More than 4,000 guests, including a select group of distributors from Spain, France and other countries where the film is expected to have a ...
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Filmfest Hamburg reveals first programme titles
Fosco and Donatello Dubini's new feature Die Reise Nach Kafiristan, which will have its world premiere on Locarno's Piazza Grande open-air venue on August 9, is one of the titles confirmed so far for this year's Filmfest Hamburg (September 24-30).The Filmfest's 90-film programme will also include Japanese director Rintaro's animation ...
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Hong Kong's Emperor to focus on film production
Shareholders in Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG) have approved the takeover of Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), one of Hong Kong's most ambitious production and distribution outfits.The deal, which is expected to be completed within a week, means that EMG shifts from being a private entity, wholly owned by Albert Yeung's Questrel ...
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Slamdance unveils films for Cologne Showcase
Slamdance Entertainment has unveiled its lineup of two German features and ten shorts for its first ever Cologne Showcase to take place on Aug 18 during music industry trade show Popkomm (Aug 16-18).The feature films are:Anam Dir: Buket AlakusMein Langsames Leben (Passing Summer) Dir: Angela SchanelecThe short films are:BundesAlltag (Lower ...
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Lot 47 buys North American rights to Some Body
Lot 47 Films has acquired all North American rights to Henry Barrial's Some Body which premiered in dramatic competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The independent distributor will release the film in spring 2002.Produced by IFC-backed Next Wave Films with Rhythm Films and Cubano Films Production, it features a ...
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Apes break four opening records in Latin America
20th Century Fox International has scored all-time industry opening records in Brasil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela as Planet Of The Apes opened throughout Latin America over the weekend.The Tim Burton-directed actioner also expanded its grasp over Asia and made its first European foray into Sweden. The film has now amassed ...
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First Run & TLA buy US rights to The Fluffer
First Run Features and TLA Releasing have acquired North American rights to Richard Glatzer and Wash West's controversial film The Fluffer which will have its nationwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before opening in US theatres in Nov 2001. The film had its world premiere in ...
