Small MPU – Page 782
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News
Slovak epic production halted by cash shortfall
The Euros 5.5m Slovak epic Juraj Janosik - A True Story has been halted mid-way through production while producer Rudolf Biermann waits for his US backer to hand over Euros 3m of overdue cash.The film, directed by mother-daughter team Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, has been hyped as the Polish-Slovak ...
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News
Paris court rules against Messier severance
A ruling Wednesday by the president of the Paris High Court has blocked Vivendi Universal from making any payments to former chairman Jean Marie Messier. On June 27 Messier was awarded upwards of 20 million euros by an arbitration court in New York, permitting him to recoup a hefty severance ...
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News
Qwerty takes on Kinsey, Searchlight, Myriad to distribute
Michael Kuhn’s Qwerty Films has boarded Bill Condon’s Kinsey which is set to start shooting on July 28. Qwerty will produce and finance the film which stars Liam Neeson and Laura Linney, with Fox Searchlight Pictures taking rights in North America, UK, Italy and Latin America.Kuhn closed a ten-picture distribution ...
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Wolfe goes theatrical with Poco Piu Di Un Anno Fa
Wolfe Video, the US videodistributor specializing in gay and lesbian product, is to enter the theatricalmarket in early 2004 with Italian drama A Little More Than A Year Ago (Poco Piu Di Un Anno Fa) directed by Marco Filiberti. Film consultant OrlyRavid will head up Wolfe's initial theatrical distribution efforts.The ...
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Reviews
The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Dir: Stephen Norrington. US. 2003. 110minsThis extraordinary misfire from Blade director Stephen Norrington is like Coca-Cola without the fizz. All the elements are in place but nothing - not the cast, the production design, the effects, the one-liners, the fight scenes, the camp - can bring it to life and ...
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News
Gong Li named Tokyo jury head
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the new director-general of the Tokyo International Film Festival, has named Chinese actress Gong Li (Breaking The Silence, The Emperor and The Asassin, Temptress Moon) as the jury chairman for the festival's 16th edition. The other jury members have yet to be announced. Kadokawa has also unveiled Yoshimitsu ...
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Reviews
The Road Home
Dir: Zhang Yimou. China. 1999. 100 mins.Prod co: Guangxi Film Studios, Beijing New Picture Distribution Co. Int'l sales: Columbia. Prod: Zhao Yu. Scr: Bao Shi. DoP: Hou Yong. Ed: Zhai Ru. Mus: San Bao. Main cast: Zhang Ziyi, Sun Honglei, Zheng Hao, Zhao Yuelin, Li Bin.Of Zhang Yimou's two films ...
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News
Tokyo names Gong Li as head of jury
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the new director-general of the Tokyo International Film Festival (Nov 1-9), has named Chinese actress Gong Li (Breaking The Silence, The Emperor And The Assassin, Temptress Moon) as the jury chairman for the festival's 16th edition. Kadokawa has also unveiled Yoshimitsu Morita's new drama Asura No Gotoku (Like ...
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News
Ireland backs upcoming production outfits
The production outfit behind Spin The Bottle - the highly anticipated closing film of this months's Galway Film Fleadh (July 8-13) - has been named as one of four companies to receive backing from the Irish Film Board.Grand Pictures is one of the participant companies in the Film Board's second ...
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News
One week wonders spoil US summer box office
Ang Lee sat in Universal Studios before the release of his $150m comic book opus The Hulk and declared that it wasn't the first weekend of the film's release which really mattered. "I hope it hits every mark of a summer blockbuster," he said. "I hope as much as the ...
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News
Singapore government backs Raintree's international slate
As part of an attempt to drive growth in the Singaporean film industry, the country's Media Development Authority (MDA) is planning to invest an estimated US$5.7m (S$10m) in a slate of 10 international features from local production house Raintree Pictures.The government agency plans to co-invest in the slate with Raintree ...
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News
Karlovy Vary chief calls for urgent multiplex upgrade
As this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival approaches its final weekend, organisers say the otherwise healthy annual event is on dangerous ground when it comes to the small city's capacity of high-quality screening halls.The festival is pressing local and national government for a $3.7m upgrade of the city's Kino ...
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News
Dutch films secure Toronto, San Sebastian berths
Grimm, the new movie by Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam (The Northerners), has been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-13). The film will be shown in the Contemporary World Cinema section. Grimm is produced by Graniet Film and sales are handled by Fortissimo Film Sales.Another Dutch movie, ...
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News
Puchon kicks off with Wonderful Days
South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) kicked off on July 10 amid strong press coverage and increasing interest from local fans. A showy opening ceremony presided over by festival director Kim Hong-joon was followed by the world premiere of the highly anticipated local animated film Wonderful Days. ...
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News
Antwone, Our America win Humanitas awards
Antwone Fisher won a $25,000cash prize yesterday for his feature screenplay Antwone Fisher at the Humanitas Prize awards luncheon in LosAngeles. The prizes are awarded to film and TV writers whose work'entertains and enriches the viewing public' and $105,000 isbestowed by the Humanitas organization.Antwone Fisher won for 'the honesty it ...
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News
IDA selects 11 features for InFACT Documentary Showcase
The InternationalDocumentary Association (IDA) has selected 19 documentaries for the seventhannual InFACT Theatrical Documentary Showcase, formerly known as DOCtober. Theeight short films and 11 features will screen from Aug 22 to 28, a window whichenables the film to qualify for Academy Award consideration.The Showcase wasmoved to August this year due ...
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News
Koch Lorber to launch new US DVD label for Bollywood films
New US DVD distributor KochLorber Films has signed an exclusive deal with CineCorp and Street AlienPictures to launch a new DVD line of Bollywood films released theatricallythrough their Rajastan Films. Rajastan was created byGautam Shah of CineCorp, one of the leading distributors and exhibitors ofIndian films in the US, and ...
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News
CAA strikes first-look deal with Bloomsbury
US talent and literary agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has struck an innovative first-look deal with Bloomsbury Publishing, a leading UK independent publisher with a portfolio that has yielded The English Patient, The Piano and Shine.Under the terms of the deal, Bloomsbury will filter the manuscripts it believes have most ...
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Warner gets China greenlight for multiplex opening in Shanghai
The Chinese government hasgranted final approval to Warner Bros International Cinemas for its newmultiplex theatre in Shanghai. Called Paraside WarnerCinema City, the complexis a joint venture with Shanghai Paradise Co Ltd and Broadband Investment Ltd ofHong Kong.The 1,490-seat, nine-screentheatre is scheduled to open on July 12 with the Chinese opening ...
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News
Williamson steps down as Focus production chief
Focus Features president ofproduction Glenn Williamson is stepping down to become a producer with a dealat Focus. He will make the transition over the next few months after completionon Focus' end of year releases is secured.Williamson, who will remainbased at Focus' west coast offices, will also work as producer on ...