Small MPU – Page 893
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Features
United Kingdom - Aria on song
From the office of his Aria Films in London, the Italian-born producer Carlo Dusi is keen to expand his realm. "Historically, a lot of the films I have been involved in have been firmly in the arthouse sector," Dusi says. "That is a dirty word here, but not for me, ...
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News
Thailand's Aditya Assarat on Wonderful Town
'There's nothing special about this little town,' says Thai writer-director Aditya Assarat of Takua Pa, the southern Thailand town that is the setting of his debut feature film. 'Except it got hit by a tsunami.'That post-tsunami calm is what Assarat explores in the somewhat ironically titled Wonderful Town, which recently ...
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News
Flashback: BAFTA 2008
Everyone thought they knew who would win this year’s Bafta film awards. Atonement was supposed to sweep the board. Julie Christie was the best actress favourite for Away From Her and Control was considered a certainty to nab the Alexander Korda award for best British film.
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Features
Awards Countdown - People - Awards People
UK director Paul Greengrass is renowned for his dynamic and visceral style that puts the audience in the centre of the action. Editor Christopher Rouse, who worked with Greengrass on United 93 and also cut The Bourne Supremacy, shares the director's aesthetic sensibilities."We are both relentless in exploring the potential ...
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News
Best documentary and shorts
DOCUMENTARIESNO END IN SIGHT In his first film, Charles Ferguson examines the decisions behind the invasion of Iraq. Ferguson, nominated with associate producer Audrey Marrs, describes the Representational Pictures production as 'a comprehensive portrait of occupation policies, their errors, and their consequences'.The film won the special documentary jury prize at ...
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Features
Production - Jumping to the next level
The high-profile collapse in 2006 of Peter Jackson's Halo adaptation could well have dampened the ardour with which millions of dollars are spent transforming video games into blockbusters each year. Yet it seems Hollywood has not only returned to embracing video-game adaptations but is pitching them as upscale tentpoles on ...
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Features
International - The winning Gaul
Asterix At The Olympic Games won the gold medal again this weekend, generating $24.5m after expanding in six territories. Pathe's family film opened at number one in Spain, where it took $2.7m, beating rival openers No Country For Old Men (starring local favourite Javier Bardem) and 30 Days Of Night. ...
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News
Critical Mass- Best of the fests
Halfway through what is likely to be viewed as a non-vintage, drink-as-soon-as-possible Berlinale, I've been pondering the question of how to rate a film festival in critical terms.After all, anyone's view is influenced by the films they happened to catch there, whether they satisfied their cravings (cutting-edge Asian, Euro auteurs, ...
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European Film Market deals
European Film Market Sales (Sales company in brackets)US deals in red. Click on film to see moreAntichrist(Nordisk/Trust)Apres Lui (Films Distribution)The Argentine/ Guerrilla (Wild Bunch)The Baker (Bankside)Balls Out - The Gary Houseman Story Bank Job (Arclight Films)Before The Rains (Maximum)Black Ice (Bavaria Film International)Bob Marley documentary (untitled) (Fortissimo)CATcher - Cat City ...
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News
Berlinale and EFM review
This year's Berlinale kicked off in fine style with Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light.Butthe story of this year's event has been that - at least for buyers - the festival line-up was in danger of being upstaged by the market.Focus inevitably turned to the EFM following a ...
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News
Consumer attitudes turn against piracy
Just seven months in to the new approach, the research shows marked improvements in public attitudes to copyright theft which directly reflect the campaign's key goal - to attach a social stigma to copyright theft so that people choose to not take part in it:Two thirds of consumers (67%) now ...
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News
Consumer attitudes turn against piracy
An NOP survey commissioned by The Industry Trust suggests changing attitudes among consumers to piracy.The trusthas been carrying out a social stigma campaign which hopes to convince people that copyright theft is not a harmless vice.And it claims the survey shows signs of success.The study suggests67% ofconsumers now regard copyright ...
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News
UK Film Council highlights 3D potential
The UK Film Council is to look at the success of 3D in cinemas with a London masterclass with the makers of U2 3D.3D cinema has been making serious critical and box-office advances this year, not only with the U2 concert film but also the extraordinary success in the US ...
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News
Murphy, Page to star in Mandate Pictures' Peacock
Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page are to star in the psychological thriller Peacock for Mandate Pictures. Michael Lander is directing, from a script he co-wrote with Ryan Roy.Barry Mendel will produce the film with Roy; Mandate Pictures' head of production Nicole Brown will executive produce with Nathan Kahane.Murphy will play ...
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News
Former BBC boss Greg Dyke named as chair of British Film Institute
The former Director-General of the BBC Greg Dyke has been names as the new chairman of the British Film Institute (BFI).He replaces Anthony Minghella, beginning his four-year term in March.The chair of the BFI is a high-profile role, Dyke has 30-years experience in television and took the top job of ...
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News
Berlin's Teddys go to Queen Raquela, Football Under Cover
The Teddy Awards have been handed out to the best films with a queer context across all programmes of the Berlinale.The best feature award went to Olaf de Fleur's The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela (an Icelandic production). That film was the story of a transsexual from the Philippines who ...
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Melissa George to set sail with Icon's thriller Triangle
Melissa George is in final negotiations to star in Triangle, a new supernatural thriller from Creep and Severance director Christsopher Smith.Icon will distribute in Australia and the UK and will handle international sales in other territories. Jason Newmark is producing for Dan Films, with Australia's Chris Brown at Pictures in ...
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Reviews
Heart Of Fire (Feuerherz)
Dir: Luigi Falorni. Germany/Austria. 2008. 94 mins.Inspired by the memoir of the same name by Senait G Mehari, Luigi Falorni's Heart Of Fire is valuable as a document illustrating the absurdity of using child soldiers in any conflict as well as a glimpse into the specific struggle for liberation in ...
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Faithless falters against other local product
While Scandinavian film-makers Lars von Trier and Liv Ullmann received plenty of positive international attention at this year's Cannes Film Festival, both directors have been hit hard by the local, and often much younger, competition at the box office in their respective home territories. The Swedish production Faithless from Norwegian ...
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News
Chellomedia takes 25% stake in UK-based Shorts International
Liberty Global's European content division Chellomedia has acquired a 25% stake in London-based Shorts International.The deal is done by subsidiary LGI Ventures BV, which specialized in minority investments. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Chellomedia will have a non-executive director on the board of Shorts International.Shorts International's projects include channel ...