Category: Hindi

MUMBAI: In a first of sorts, an animated film had the honour of opening up the Cannes Film Festival. Pixar films‘ Up opened the 62nd Cannes Film Festival yesterday.

A host of celebrities donned 3D glasses for the not-in-competition film that deals about a curmudgeonly man who ties balloons to his house in order to get airborne.

Up producer and Pixar co-founder John Lasseter beamed with delight as he and colleagues mingled with celebrities present on the carpet. “We‘re just a bunch of animation geeks from northern California on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival,” he said.

The 10th feature film from animation powerhouse Pixar was warmly received earlier at its press screening where the closing credits were greeted with a round of applause.

The curtains of the event will be wrung down on 24 May when the Palme d‘Or prize will be announced.

Commenting on the tremendous response to the film, festival director Thierry Fremaux said, ” Perhaps this year we can think about cinema and not the stars and the starlets.”

MUMBAI: Excel Home Videos has released two scifi films like X-Files – I Want To Believe and Babylon AD on DVD. The films based on science fiction and sci-fi action promises to be a treat for lovers of the genre.

Both the DVDs will be available in all leading stores for Rs 399.

Incidentally, The X- Files: I Want To Believe is the second feature film based on Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning American cult television series The X- Files.

The X-Files had become the longest-running science fiction series ever on US broadcast television by its final airing and was rated as one of the greatest cult television show by TV Guide. In 2007, Time magazine included it on a list of the ‘100 best TV shows of all time‘.

Directed by series creator Chris Carter from a story he penned with executive producer Frank Spotnitz, The X-Files: I Want To Believe is a standalone story described as a “skillful thriller” (Roger Ebert; Chicago Sun-Times) that picks up six years after the series ended.

Bonus features included in the DVD are: audio commentary by director Chris Carter and producer Frank Spotnitz, deleted scenes, gag reel, featurettes and ‘Dying to live‘ by Xzibit.

In Babylon AD Vin Diesel is back at his best on a mission to save the future of mankind. Based on the critically-acclaimed French novel Babylon Babies by Maurice.G.Dantec, Babylon AD is directed by Mathieu Kassovitz (of Gothika and Assassins fame) and stars Vin Diesel (of Saving Private Ryan, The Chronicles of Riddick fame) as Toorop, French actress Mélanie Thierry and martial arts star Michelle Yeoh (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame).

The DVD is loaded with action packed bonus features that include an extended unrated cut, multiple featurettes and picture-in-picture behind-the-scenes footage.

Bonus features found in the DVD are Babylon Babies, Artic Escape, Featurettes, deleted scenes, prequel to Babylon AD and still gallery.

MUMBAI: Dharma Productions faces a $150, 000 lawsuit in the US for not paying local workers and actors hired for the shooting of a Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer in Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Daily News website, the Karan Johar-owned production house that tied up with Australia-based Swish Films for the movie shot for a few scenes in Philadelphia last autumn and then left owing money to hundreds of local actors and vendors.

Now, both the companies Dharma Productions and Swish Films have been sued according to documents filed in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.

The lawsuit seeks in excess of $150,000 to be paid to in unpaid services and expenses for 25 of the vendors.

Those named in the lawsuit include Fishtown bar‘s Johnny Brenda who supposedly owes $972, Mike Lemon Casting $7,971 and Kitchen Sink Fabrications $1,060.

A restraining order has also been placed on both the production houses which forbids them from leaving the USA with any footage that may have already been shot.

MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) has secured Sunday prime-time clearance in almost two third of the US in less than 10 days. The studio had recently announced its prime time Sunday movie package for affiliates of the CW Television network known as ‘MGM Prime-Time Sunday Movie‘.

MGM, which previously programmed UPN‘s Saturday weekend movie, took over the programming of 8-10 pm Sunday night for the CW Television Network last year.

With all of the CW stations taking back Sunday night, MGM is offering an upgraded line up of popular feature films of which the package includes Legally Blonde starring Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, Overboard, starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and four films from the Studio‘s James Bond collection.

MGM Worldwide Television co-president, Jim Packer states, “MGM has a long track record of providing quality, ratings-driven films that work in a 52-week lineup. With over 4,000 films in our library, MGM has the right mix of films to deliver ratings while allowing CW stations to have some programming continuity on Sunday nights.”

Adds MGM Broadcast Strategy, Executive Vice President John Bryan, “With about 150 CW stations having signed up for the same, the station community seems to have embraced the ‘MGM Prime-Time Sunday Movie‘.

“In addition, MGM is offering over 50 per cent of the titles in high definition which has been a big win for local stations in their drive to be competitive on Sunday nights.”

MUMBAI: The Singapore government has earmarked $156 million over five years to develop the country‘s media content sector. This is in addition to $340 million already committed to interactive digital media research and development.

This initiative is part of the government‘s ongoing plan to attract the world‘s creative community to partner with Singapore media companies.

Accordingly, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) announced three of its new initiatives at the Cannes Film Market.

The government‘s plan aims to provide the best environment for media business, while leveraging R&D to position Singapore at the leading edge of digital media. Emphasising the creation of new intellectual properties, as well as the formation of new digital media industries. The three initiatives outlined by the MDA include:

The International Film Fund: (TIFF) Provided to Singapore-based production and post-production companies with the opportunity to executive produce and/or co-produce films of global appeal with international partners, MDA launched The International Film Fund (TIFF), the latest funding initiative which will encourage projects to be shot in and out of Singapore.

The fund will allow a contribution of up to $3.4 million per project, covering 17 to 20 projects ranging from animation, live-action features and post-production projects. MDA will take a share of the rights and revenues of the films as appropriate for its investment.

The TIFF is in addition to $882 million of private equity investment in Singapore that is currently available to filmmakers.

Stereoscopic 3D Development Fund: As a result of its inaugural 3DX Festival, a global gathering of the stereoscopic 3D filmed entertainment and technology sectors which took place last November, Singapore has earmarked $6.7 million for its stereoscopic 3D Development Fund.

Under this fund, Singapore has committed to co-produce a slate of three 3D films, all of which will be in production by the end of March 2010, and which are being offered for pre-sale at Cannes. The first title of the slate is Amphibious, a science fiction adventure project to be directed by Brian Yuzna.

Mediapolis @ one-north: Currently under-development, Mediapolis @ one-north is a state-of-the-art studio complex which offers sound stages, digital production, post-production, broadcast and distribution facilities. A colaboration between the Singapore Government and private sector investors, Mediapolis @ one-north will span 47 acres (19 hectares) and will serve as a catalyst for film, television, animation, video game and emerging new media production.

In addition to the studio complex, the master plan for Mediapolis @ one-north includes research and development labs and work lofts as well as retail and recreation amenities and accommodations.

MUMBAI: Car manufacturing company Renault is this year‘s official sponsor for the Cannes Film Festival.

As part of the agreement, from 13 to 24 May, a fleet of about hundred vehicles including 70 Vel Satis and 30 Espace will drive film personalities and festival guests to and from the venue.

It may be recalled that Louis Renault‘s Voiturette appeared in the Lumi?re brothers‘ early films in 1899, when the first film studios were built in Boulogne-Billancourt at the same time as the first Renault factory came up on the Ile Seguin.

Renault is continuing its commitment to film and television production today through an active policy of sponsorship and product placements. Several models from the Renault range are featured in films in this Festival‘s official selection including Les Herbes Folles by Alain Resnais.

Renault has also been encouraging Les Toiles Enchantées, a not-for-profit organisation chaired by Alain Chabat that screens movies in children‘s hospitals, by lending two vehicles to transport projection equipment and crews to children in hospitals around Cannes.

MUMBAI: Reliance ADAG‘s Big Pictures is gearing up to market 18 new films to the international buyers, distributors and media during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival ‘09.While Kites, staring Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, will serve as the production company‘s

tent pole international movie at the festival, the other films from the Big Pictures basket include both various regional (Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam and Kannada) as well as World cinema projects.

Part of the Bengali film genre, the 18-film list has Rituparno Ghosh‘s Abhomaan and Shob Charitrao Kalponik. While Abhomaan stars Dipankar De, Mamta Shankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Shob Charitrao Kalponik stars Bipasha Basu and Prosenjit Chatterjee in pivotal roles.

Bengali film director Baddhadeb Dasgupta‘s Janala, starring Tapas Paul, Swastika Mukherjee and Indranil SenGupta, will also participate in the 2009 festival.

The other films from the regional kitty are Malayalam director Shaji N Karun‘s film Kutty Srank, Kannada director M S Sathyu‘s Ijjodu and Marathi film actor and director Amol Palekar‘s Samaantar.

Films such as Piyush Jha‘s Sikandar, David Dhawan‘s Do Knot Disturb, Shyam Benegal‘s Well Done Abba, Vinod Pande‘s Chaloo Movie, Simerjit Singh‘s Chak Jawana and Vinay Shukla‘s Mirch will also be promoted at Cannes this year. , The films are in various stages of production.

The Big Pictures‘ catalogue for the festival will also include films like Ghajini, Rock On!, Luck By Chance and 13 B.

Amongst other production houses, Eros will promote Saif Ali Khan‘s
first home production Love Aajkal and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aladin while UTV Motion Pictures will unveil its slate for 2009-10 to international distributors.

UTV will also focus on non-traditional European, South East Asian and Latin American markets for their earlier films like Jodhaa Akbar, Taare Zameen Par, Swades, Delhi 6, Dev D, Rang De Basanti, A Wednesday, Welcome to Sajjanpur and Fashion.

MUMBAI: Eagle Films has entered into a tripartite agreement with the Berlin-based production companies Advise Film and TV Production and the Austrian group Wega to co-produce a feature film tentatively titled Waltz on the Raga.

This agreement follows a long and positive interface between Umesh Mehra and Nils Vise, managing directors of Eagle Films and Advise respectively, at a location marketing event organised by the Film & Television Producers Guild of India at Mumbai in collaboration with Berlin Partner GMBH (coordinated by Mr. Kamal Roy, Director of the Berlin Asia Pacific Film Festival) in November 2008.

The letter of intent to co-produce the movie was formally endorsed by the respective managing directors of the two companies and Dr. Veit Heiduschka, their counterpart in Wega, at Vienna some days back.

Guild President Manmohan Shetty expressed his elation on the agreement which justifies the premier objective in organizing such events. Shetty stated that this agreement will undoubtedly herald a new chapter in co-production ventures between Guild members and prospective international producers.

Guild Secretary General Supran Sen expressed his pleasure at this tie-up and hoped that more such deals can be cracked in the future through enterprising initiatives undertaken by the Guild on the lines of the November event.

MUMBAI: Tata Elxsi, Prime Focus and Shemaroo Entertainment featured prominently in The Golden Cursor Animation Awards held in Mumbai recently.
While Tata Elxsi bagged three awards for Roadside Romeo, Prime Focus bagged two; one for its special effects in Love Story 2050 and the other for LG.

Shemaroo Entertainment bagged two awards – one for its mobile game Ghatotkach: Eat on Before Dawn and the next for Rhyme time in Toyland in the best animated edutainment content category.

In its second year, the awards were graced by the presence of world renowned animation and gaming artistes – Anthony Christov, Art Director for the Academy Award winning Wall-E and BAFTA winning Ian Livingstone of Tomb Raider fame as the chief guests for the evening.

A highlight this year was the ‘Amateur Storytelling Contest‘ that received more than 200 entries.

The winners of Golden Cursor Animation Awards were chosen after a comprehensive three-stage process that involved the Indian Animation Industry nominating some of their best work across 25 categories.

Post that, a panel of experts shortlisted the top 3-5 nominees in every category and the same were presented to an eminent jury panel comprising the animation industry‘s most revered names, who shortlisted the entries based on the pre-determined parameters.

The distinguished panel of judges for the awards included Madhusudanan – Director and CEO-Geon Studios, Mr.Madhavan – CEO-Crest animation, Gitanjali Rao – Animation film maker, Yunus Bukhari – VFX Producer, Artery Animation & Fx, Ashish Kulkarni – CEO, Big Animation, Puneet Sharma – Technical Advisor, Arena Animation & Anand Gurnani – CEO, Animationxpress.com

Prominent winners of the awards were : best animated feature film Roadside Romeo – Yash Raj Films, Walt Disney and Tata Elxsi, best student short film Stuk, best short film Professional Samba Mamba (Ooga Booga) – Vaibhav Studios, best animated TV series Chota Bheem – Greengold, best animated TVC (TV commercial) Sulekha.com – Famous Studios, best animation PSA (Public Service Announcement) Flavours – Viacom 18, best channel Id/promo Flying Menace (Ooga Booga) by Vaibhav Studios.

Other awards were best title sequence Roadside Romeo Yashraj Film Studios and Walt Disney, best animation/live action LG – Prime Focus, best VFX feature film, Love Story 2050 – Prime Focus, best lyrics Roadside Romeo, Yashraj Film Studios and Walt Disney, best music Roadside Romeo Yashraj Film Studios and Walt Disney, best animation (Professional) Roadside Romeo-Tata Elxsi.

Best mobile game Ghatotkach: Eat on Before Dawn Shemaroo Entertainment, best online casual game Conga Bugs – Game Tantra, best PC game Ghajini FX Labs, best animated edutainment content Rhyme time in Toyland Shemaroo Entertainment, Best Comics Moksha – Vimanika, Best Console Game Hanuman Boy Warrior – Aurona Studios and many others.

MUMBAI: In celebration of the International Family Day (15 May), Excel Home Videos has brought together all-time great family film titles on DVD.

The DVDs are perfectly suited and entertaining for kids and grown-ups alike, where one can find touching stories on the fears, joy and adventures of children and adults young at heart.

The DVDs include The Sound of Music, Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang, King and I , Big
Cheaper By The Dozen, Little Miss Sunshine, Keeping Up With The Steins, Home Alone, Ice Age, Horton Hears a Who! and Night At The Museum.