Small MPU – Page 910

  • Features

    France - Critical faculties

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    "He would never talk about his problems but it was impossible not to feel his anxiety," says young French director Mia Hansen-Love of producer Humbert Balsan, who she worked with on her debut feature, Tout Est Pardonne, winner of the prestigious Prix Louis Delluc in France last year.Later this year, ...

  • News

    SPECIAL REPORT: HONG KONG & CHINA 2008

    2008-03-20T17:00:00Z

    SCREEN SPECIAL REPORT CONTENTS (click to view)Hong Kong: Territory overview Hong Kong: Indie finance Hong Kong and China: Hot projects Hong Kong: Box office China: Territory overview China: Rising stars Filmart preview Hkiff preview Haf preview Filmart highlightsNow heading into its fourth year, Entertainment Expo Hong Kong (March 17-April 13) ...

  • News

    RAI to seek international partners

    2000-09-29T17:27:00Z

    Italian state broadcaster RAI continues to deny rumours that its television channels are about to be privatised, but according to board member Stefano Balassone, will seek global partners as soon as it gains autonomy from the Italian government.The Italian parliament has recently stepped up efforts to push through statutory reforms ...

  • News

    HONG KONG: TERRITORY OVERVIEW

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    Looking solely at the numbers, the Hong Kong film industry had a tough time last year, with a further decline in the number of films produced to a record low of 50, according to figures from the Motion Picture Industry Association (Mpia). Their combined share of the Hong Kong box ...

  • News

    HONG KONG BOX OFFICE: GOLDEN TICKETS

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    Hong Kong's overall box office leapt 11% to just over $129.6m (hk$1bn) in 2007, marking the first time the territory's box office has bounced back above the hk$1bn level since 2001.The increase was due partly to new cinema openings, strong US studio product and a strengthening economy. Last year, the ...

  • Features

    Hong Kong Overview - Financing - A lifeline for independent producers

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    Launched last April, the Film Development Council (FDC) advises the Hong Kong government on policy for the promotion and development of the local film industry. It also oversees the $38m (hk$300m) Film Development Fund and related areas, such as training and promotion of film literacy.Designed to support small to medium-sized ...

  • News

    CHINA VIEW: BREAKING THROUGH THE WALL

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    With production volume and box-office revenue growing at more than 20% year on year, along with breakneck multiplex development, China is a film market the global industry cannot afford to neglect. However, entering the Chinese market also means tackling the country’s yet-to-be-resolved issues - censorship and piracy.

  • News

    FILMART: ASIA GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    The oldest and arguably most established film market in Asia, Filmart (March 17-20) has emerged as one of the leading events on the global film industry's calendar.Launched by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) back in 1997, the market is still dominated by Asian product and those who want ...

  • News

    HKIFF:ADDING THE GLAMOUR

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    Primarily an audience festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff) nonetheless achieves greater international recognition by taking place at the same time as Filmart and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). In turn, it helps to increase the film-maker quotient at both industry-heavy events.Nearly 300 films from ...

  • News

    HAF: SUCCESS STORIES ATTRACT BIG NAMES

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    Expanding from its Hong Kong roots to become a truly regional event, the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has been the springboard for many critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful projects.From last year's line-up, Korean director Kim Jee-woon's The Good, The Bad And The Weird and Kiyoshi ...

  • News

    FILMART: MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    HONG KONGFilmart's host country has a strong line-up of product this year, from social dramas and crime thrillers to big-budget martial-arts films.Media Asia is selling Dante Lam's The Sniper, starring Richie Jen and Huang Xiaoming, along with thriller Lady Cop & Papa Crook, co-directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong ...

  • Features

    International - France plays joker

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    French films accounted for nearly a quarter of the international top 40 revenue this weekend, spearheaded by a whopping $32.5m opening from top film Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis.The comedy, released through Pathe, played on 838 screens and boasted the highest screen average of the year so far with a mammoth ...

  • News

    Trust, Bac Films to handle international sales on Cartoon Movie projects

    2008-03-07T15:05:00Z

    Trust Film Sales and Bac Films are to handle international sales on two projects pitched at this week's Cartoon Movie co-production market in Babelsberg.Trust will be handling international distribution for Valeria Edwina Saunders' Prima Ballerina which is being produced by her company Rambling Rose Animation Studio with Denmark's Zentropa, Hungarian ...

  • News

    Wild Bunch picks up El Otro Barrio

    2000-09-29T17:58:00Z

    StudioCanal's classics division Wild Bunch has picked up worldwide rights excluding Spain to Salvador Garcia Ruiz's San Sebastian competition title El Otro Barrio.The film, which is Garcia Ruiz's second after Mensaka, stars Jorge Alcazar and Alex Casanovas and is produced by Tornasol Films. Spanish rights are held by Alta Films.The ...

  • News

    HONG KONG AND CHINA: HOT PROJECTS

    2008-03-07T15:21:00Z

    ConnectedDir: Benny ChanWarner China Film and Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures are teaming up on this Chinese-language remake of New Line's kidnap thriller Cellular. Benny Chan is directing the $4.5m film with Louis Koo, Barbie Hsu and Liu Ye heading the cast.Contact: Emperor Motion Pictures, (852) 2835 6688An Empress And ...

  • News

    Cartoon Tributes go to French projects including Persepolis

    2008-03-07T15:34:00Z

    France was the big winner of this year's Cartoon Movie Tributes awarded to 'companies or personalities that have had a positive or dynamic influence on the European animation feature film industry' which were presented at the Cartoon Movie market in Babelsberg this afternoon.The Best European Director of the Year award ...

  • News

    Avex and Bill Kong create $16.75m Irresistible film fund

    2008-03-07T16:11:00Z

    Japan's Avex Group Holdings has announced the establishment of a 10-year $16.75m film fund in partnership with major film producer Bill Kong.Operating under the name Irresistible Films LP, the fund was jointly established by Avex Group Holdings (39.4%), Hong Kong-based subsidiary Avex Asia Ltd (9.9%) and Silk Screen Partners Ltd ...

  • News

    HONG KONG: INDIE FINANCE

    2008-03-07T16:46:00Z

    Launched last April, the Film Development Council (FDC) advises the Hong Kong government on policy for the promotion and development of the local film industry. It also oversees the $38m (hk$300m) Film Development Fund and related areas, such as training and promotion of film literacy.Designed to support small to medium-sized ...

  • News

    Chadwick to direct The Property for Material, Seymour

    2008-03-07T17:05:00Z

    London-based production company Material Entertainment is in advanced talks with Justin Chadwick to direct thriller The Property.Chadwick's The Other Boleyn Girl opens in the UK today.The Property is a London-set thriller about a young professional couple who use dubious methods to land their dream home, only to be tormented by ...

  • News

    Vivendi Entertainment launches US theatrical division

    2008-03-07T17:37:00Z

    Vivendi Entertainment, formerly Vivendi Visual Entertainment, is branching out from its home entertainment expertise into theatrical releasing with plans to handle eight-14 films a year.Mike Doban will head the new division, which will provide distribution and marketing services and co-ordinate P&A funding. Doban has worked in distribution and exhibition for ...