Small MPU – Page 703

  • News

    Prime finally acquires control of Becker and Dendy

    2007-06-24T20:08:00Z

    Australian regional broadcaster, Prime Television, has taken control of the Becker Group, which includes Dendy Cinemas, Dendy Distribution, and sales agent Becker International, as well as significant television production and outside broadcast interests.Prime acquired the 42.6% of the company owned by father-and-son directors Russell and Richard Becker late last week ...

  • News

    Breakthrough D-cinema agreement signed with US studios

    2007-06-25T04:30:00Z

    A potential breakthrough in the 'who pays'' deadlock that has stunted digital cinema rollout is unveiled today at Cinema Expo in Amsterdam.Digital distribution pioneer Arts Alliance Media (AAM) has reached an agreement with Universal Pictures International and Twentieth Century Fox to offer Europe's virtual print fee (VPF), which could cover ...

  • News

    Shrek The Third reigns on in international marketplace

    2007-06-24T21:43:00Z

    Shrek The Third continued to rule the international marketplace this weekend, opening well in Germany, Spain and half a dozen smaller countries and grossing an estimated $48.6m from 5,737 locations across 45 territories. Among possible heirs to the throne, Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer debuted at number one ...

  • News

    Evan leads, 1408 strong at North American box office

    2007-06-24T23:03:00Z

    Effects-heavy family comedy Evan Almighty topped the North American box office chart for the weekend, opening with an estimated gross of $32.1m. But it was Stephen King horror adaptation 1408 that impressed most, with its $20.2m debut.The weekend's other wide release, fact-based drama A Mighty Heart, opened slightly below expectations ...

  • News

    SIFF takes first step on long march to global recognition

    2007-06-25T07:28:00Z

    Chinese stars Gong Li, Jackie Chan, Aaron Kwok and Fan Bingbing turned out for the closing night of the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), which wrapped with the Jin Jue awards and a screening of Hou Hsiao-hsien's Flight Of The Red Balloon. German feature According To The Plan, directed ...

  • News

    Mark Woods to leave Ausfilm when contract expires in August

    2007-06-25T15:40:00Z

    Ausfilm chief executive Mark Woods today said that he will not seek an extension of his two-year contract when it expires in August. Ausfilm is the government-industry partnership that has responsibility for talking international producers into using Australia 's locations, crews and facilities for their film and television productions. Woods, ...

  • News

    Parallax unveils partnership with Scotland's Makar

    2000-08-18T11:41:00Z

    The UK's Parallax Pictures has established a Scottish production base through a partnership with Edinburgh-based Makar Productions. The two companies are already collaborating on Makar's first National Lottery-financed feature, the $3.9m Child Of Air.Parallax's Sally Hibbins will executive produce the feature with Makar's Eddie Dick producing. Pat Harkins, who recently ...

  • News

    Greece gets first digital screens at two Village sites in Athens

    2007-06-25T15:49:00Z

    Greece will get its first two digital cinema installations as Village Cinemas digitises two of its largest screens in Athens, Village Faliro and the Village Park 20. Spacevision designed the Village system with both Kodak and Christie components, with 3D capability from Real D. Kodak's JMN3000 player has been installed ...

  • News

    MDC takes on sales for Meletzky's Shanghai winner Plan

    2007-06-25T15:52:00Z

    Berlin-based sales company MDC has picked up international distribution rights for Franziska Meletzky's According To The Plan (Frei Nach Plan) which won best film honours at the Jin Jue Awards in the competition section of the Shanghai International Film Festival this weekend. The film, which is Meletzky's second feature after ...

  • News

    Medb Films wins Kent Business Award

    2007-06-25T15:57:00Z

    The Ramsgate-based UK mini-studio Medb Films has just won the top prize in the Creative Industries Category at the Kent Business Awards. Medb was founded by Elaine Wickham and Jan Dunn, the pair behind acclaimd British dogme feature Gypo and the newly completed Ruby Blue, starring Bob Hoskins and Josiane ...

  • News

    Tribeca, William Morris, CIMG create Beijing film event

    2007-06-26T05:00:00Z

    Tribeca Film Festival organiser Tribeca Enterprises is linking up with the William Morris Agency (WMA) and lifestyle content creator China Interactive Media Group (CIMG) to present a two-day independent film event in Beijing, China.The Tribeca 798 Film Festival Beijing will take place on July 10 and 11 and will centre ...

  • News

    29 films to receive awards for crossing $100m internationally

    2007-06-25T22:15:00Z

    This year's Nielsen EDI International Gold Reel Awards for crossing the $100m in international markets will honour 29 films. Special Platinum Reel Awards will also go to the three films that crossed $500m outside the US: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ...

  • News

    MGM to launch channel in Netherlands, Flemish-speaking Belgium

    2007-06-25T22:32:00Z

    MGM Networks, the branded TV channel division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is to launch a new MGM Channel movie service customised for audiences in the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium.Subtitled in Dutch, the new channel, 100% owned by MGM, will be transmitted and distributed through an agreement with Chellomedia, the Europe-based content division ...

  • News

    Paramount grants license for theme park in UAE

    2007-06-25T22:43:00Z

    The licensing arm of Paramount Pictures has signed a long-term agreement that will allow United Arab Emirates (UAE) company Ruwaad Holdings to develop a Paramount-branded theme park in the UAE. The park will feature rides, shows and attractions based on Paramount movies, and will also, according to a Paramount statement, ...

  • News

    Sony picks up slew of rights to ContentFilm's Outpost

    2007-06-26T04:00:00Z

    Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) has acquired all distribution rights to ContentFilm's horror thriller Outpost for a package of territories including North America, the UK and Australia.Set in war-torn Eastern Europe, Outpost follows a band of mercenaries who undertake a dangerous mission at the behest of a mysterious businessman. ...

  • News

    Overture Films takes domestic rights to De Niro/Pacino thriller

    2007-06-25T22:51:00Z

    Overture Films has come aboard to distribute Millenium Films' Robert De Niro-Al Pacino action thriller Righteous Kill in North America.The film, which will be produced by Randall Emmett and Rob Cowan along with Millenium, is set to start shooting in September in Bridgeport, Connecticut and New York City. Overture's executive ...

  • News

    TIFF to hold pre-festival press screenings in New York, LA

    2007-06-25T22:59:00Z

    The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be press screening select titles in New York City and Los Angeles in advance of the September event, according to TIFF director of communications Andrea Grau. The pre-screenings are part of TIFF co-director Noah Cowan's effort to boost the profile of films that ...

  • News

    Oz ratings chief speaks out on screen violence

    2000-08-18T12:48:00Z

    Des Clark, director of Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), has claimed that Australians are concerned about rising levels of screen violence, and plans to take this into account in a review of the film classification system to take place next year.The most serious concerns are about violence ...

  • News

    TIFF to hold pre-festival press screenings in New York, LA

    2007-06-25T22:59:00Z

    The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be press screening select titles in New York City and Los Angeles in advance of the September event, according to TIFF director of communications Andrea Grau. The pre-screenings are part of TIFF co-director Noah Cowan's effort to boost the profile of films that ...

  • News

    Warner Bros, HP to streamline post-production, restoration

    2007-06-26T11:00:00Z

    In a move the studio says will streamline its post-production processes and 'future-proof' films going into its archive, Warner Bros Entertainment is deploying media storage technology from computer maker HP that uses the 4K digital format, the highest resolution format for digital video. Warner and HP formed a strategic partnership ...