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Category: Hollywood

  • Wim Wenders to get Golden Bear at Berlinale

    Wim Wenders to get Golden Bear at Berlinale

    NEW DELHI: Renowned German filmmaker Wim Wenders will be presented the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement award and the Homage Section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival will be dedicated to him.

                                                            
    The award ceremony on 12 February 2015 will include a screening of Der amerikanische Freund (The American Friend, 1977). It was Wenders’ international breakthrough film. “We were so impressed by the brilliance of the recently completed digital restoration that we decided to premiere it as part of the award ceremony for the Honorary Golden Bear,” Festival director Dieter Kosslick said.

     
    In addition, the Deutsche Kinemathek has teamed up with Berlinale Talents for a special event entitled ‘Wings of Time: A Conversation with Wim Wenders’ the evening before the honourary award gala. The director will hold a discussion in English with Rainer Rother, artistic director of the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen.

     

    The Museum of Modern Art, New York, is honouring Wenders in March 2015 with a comprehensive retrospective that will include many of the films shown in the Homage programme.

    In another nod to the Homage and the honorary award, the ZDF broadcasting group has scheduled a 2015 Wim Wenders retrospective, with the first series of films airing in February on ZDF, as well as on 3sat and ARTE.

     

  • Stars commit to ‘Suicide Squad’

    Stars commit to ‘Suicide Squad’

    MUMBAI: An all-star roster of actors has joined Warner Bros. Pictures’ new action adventure ‘Suicide Squad’, bringing DC Comics’ super villain team to the big screen under the direction of David Ayer (‘Fury’).  The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures creative development and worldwide production president Greg Silverman.

     

    The film will star two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, ‘Ali’, upcoming ‘Focus’) as Deadshot; Tom Hardy (‘The Dark Knight Rises’, upcoming ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’) as Rick Flagg; Margot Robbie (‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, upcoming ‘Focus’, the ‘Tarzan’ movie) as Harley Quinn; Oscar winner Jared Leto (‘Dallas Buyers Club’, ‘Alexander’) as the Joker; Jai Courtney (‘Divergent’, upcoming ‘The Water Diviner’) as Boomerang; and Cara Delevingne (‘Anna Karenina’, upcoming ‘Pan’) as Enchantress.

     

    In making the announcement, Silverman said, “The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one.  David Ayer returns to the studio where he wrote ‘Training Day’ and brings his incredible ability to craft multidimensional villains to this iconic DC property with a cast of longtime Warner collaborators Will Smith and Tom Hardy, and other new and returning favorites: Margot, Jared, Jai and Cara.  We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero.”

     

     Ayer is also writing the script for ‘Suicide Squad’, which is being produced by Charles Roven (‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, upcoming ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’) and Richard Suckle (‘American Hustle’).  Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns are serving as executive producers.

     

     The film is slated for release on 5 August 2016.

  • Malaysia-Singapore co-production gets funds at Golden Horse in Taipei

    Malaysia-Singapore co-production gets funds at Golden Horse in Taipei

    NEW DELHI: The Malaysia-Singapore co-production The Era of Farewell has won the Grand Prize at the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP) in Taipei.

     

    Based on the novel by Li Zi Shu, Era is the multi-generational tale of a gang boss’s wife who fights for her own independence. Director Adric Chong receives a NT$1 million (US$32,300) cash prize.

     

    Juror Lee Lieh said that although Chong’s original treatment was problematic, he was awarded based on the strength of his short films and a revised synopsis. The film, budgeted at US$1.6 million, has yet to secure any financing.

     

    Three films won two prizes: Midi Z’s The Road to Mandalay, Maisy Choi’s Have a Nice Trip and Kuo Cheng-chui’s For?t Debussy.

     

    Mandalay, about illegal immigrants in Bangkok, won two prizes: The Pixelfly Digital Award and the inaugural Taipei New Horizon Screenplay Award, valued at NT$400,000 (US$12,900). It has raised US$100,000 of its US$750,000 budget.

     

    Trip — about four elderly relatives visiting Japan — won The Hualien International Most Potential and Creative Award, valued at NT$300,000 (US$9,700), and the Modern Cinema Laboratory Award. Budgeted at US$1.85 million, it is produced by Hong Kong’s Amy Chin and Stanley Kwan.

     

    France-Taiwan co-production Debussy — about a mother and daughter who flee into a forest to escape a media scandal — won the CNC Cash Award and the TMPC Award. The CNC prize, valued at €10,000 (US$12,500) is for projects that have potential as French co-productions.

     

    Jenny Lu’s UK-Taiwan co-production The Receptionist won the Central Pictures Corporation Award for post-production. 2 Love Stories about Liang Liang, which has no director officially attached, won the CPC’s award for pre-production.

     

    Both Debussy and Receptionist are also recipients of government production subsidies that were announced by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture in July.

     

    Farewell the Good Old Days is set to be directed by Hong Kong’s Kevin CHU Ka-wang and Judy CHU — the duo behind indie drama I Sell Love — picked up the Moneff Award. The film will be Judy Chu’s directorial debut.

     

    Singapore’s A Small Place won the 3H Sound Studio Award. Packages from Daddy won the LAPCC Award. Notes of a Desolate Man, based on a novel by Chu Tien-wen, won the Arrow Award.

     

  • People Magazine accidentally publishes obituary of Kirk Douglas

    People Magazine accidentally publishes obituary of Kirk Douglas

    NEW DELHI: People Magazine accidentally published its pre-written obituary for renowned actor Kirk Douglas on Sunday night.

     

    Reporting this, Variety of the United States said,“It is not uncommon for major publications to write their elaborate obituaries in advance, and People Magazine clearly did not mean to run the story as evident from the “DO NOT PUB” in the headline.

     

    However, Kirk Spartacus Douglas and his family members are not happy. Douglas, who turns 98 next week, is not the first celebrity ‘death’ botched by People.

     

    In 1982, Abe Vigoda was erroneously referred to as “the late Abe Vigoda” in People Magazine, which became a running joke about Vigoda on talk shows like “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Vigoda is, of course, still alive.

     

    Bloomberg made a similar obituary gaffe when it published news of Steve Jobs’ death in 2008 three years before the Apple co-founder’s actually passing away in 2011. The editors of Bloomberg quickly posted a retraction and apologized for the mistake. 

  • Over 115 projects backed by Germany-based World Cinema Fund in 10 years

    Over 115 projects backed by Germany-based World Cinema Fund in 10 years

    NEW DELHI: The World Cinema Fund (WCF) based in Germany, which is marking its 10th year this year, has backed a total of 119 projects from 41 countries: granted production funds 84 times and given distribution funds to 35 films for release in German cinemas.

     

    In 2015, the WCF will expand its funding programme to include a special project: WCF Europe.

     

    “The World Cinema Fund is a success story: over the years it has grown and extended its reach. And for the time being, the Federal Cultural Foundation has secured its financing of the World Cinema Fund until 2018. The terms are good and will allow us to continue our work successfully,” said German Federal Cultural Foundation artistic director Hortensia Volckers.

     

    Alongside its funding activities, the WCF annually organises a “WCF Day” during the Berlinale. In panel discussions, film cultures and infrastructures in individual countries or regions are debated. Moreover, since 2007, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, there have been “Spotlights” with WCF-funded films and workshops in the funding regions.

     

    In 2015 and 2016, WCF Europe will supplement the existing programme of the World Cinema Fund and back further co-productions between European producers, and directors and producers from WCF regions and countries. Applications may be submitted by European producers from MEDIA sub-programme countries and production firms in WCF Europe regions, as well as in the Ukraine, Belarus and Moldavia, that can document they have already collaborated with a European partner.

     

    Distribution funds will be granted to films that are being released jointly by three distributors: at least one must be from Europe and one from a WCF region or country. Funding for the coming two years will total 300,000 euros.

     

    “The WCF’s success is proof of its topicality, and commitment to world cinema and cultural diversity. We thank Hortensia Völckers and the Federal Cultural Foundation for backing us all these years. I would also like to welcome the German Federal Foreign Office on board as another important partner. Funds from the Foreign Office allow us to pursue the goal of contributing internationally to partner-based cooperation’s and co-productions. Many thanks to the Foreign Office for this,” commented Berlinale director Berlinale Dieter Kosslick. 

     

  • Benedict Cumberbatch to receive Variety Award

    Benedict Cumberbatch to receive Variety Award

    NEW DELHI: Renowned British actor Benedict Cumberbatch will receive The Variety Award the Moet British Independent Film Awards at the ceremony on 7 December at Old Billingsgate.

     

    The recipient of The Variety Award was announced today by Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, joint Directors.

     

    The Variety Award recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to bring the international spotlight on the UK.  The Variety Award was bestowed upon Paul Greengrass last year and has previously been awarded to Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Sir Michael Caine, Daniel Craig, Dame Helen Mirren and Richard Curtis to name a few.

     

    The news coincides with the release of his latest film, The Imitation Game which is nominated for four Moet British Independent Film Awards: Best British Independent Film, Best Screenplay for Graham Moore; Best Actress for Keira Knightley and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch.

     

    Cumberbatch commented: “I am delighted to receive this prestigious award and would like to thank Variety and The Moet British Independent Film Awards for this incredible honour. It is made even more special by the recognition of The Imitation Game in this year’s nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of.”

     

    Cumberbatch is best known for playing the title role of Sherlock Holmes in Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ stunning adaption of the Conan Doyle books. It is a role that has earned him international acclaim and several awards including an Emmy as Best Actor in 2014.

     

    Benedict is currently filming The Hollow Crown II for BBC and Neal Street Productions, in which he plays the legendary Richard III for director Dominic Cooper and alongside Dame Judi Dench.

     

    Now in its 17th year, the Awards were created by Raindance in 1998 and set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.

     

    Previous winners of the prestigious Best British Independent Film Award include Slumdog Millionaire. 

  • La Famille Belier to close Black Nights Festival in Estonia

    La Famille Belier to close Black Nights Festival in Estonia

    NEW DELHI: The red carpet award ceremony of the 18th Black Nights Film Festival will close with the international premiere of La Famille Bélier by Eric Lartigau, a warmhearted comedy, on 28 November at the Nordea Concert Hall in Talinn, Estonia.

    The awards for the best films, directors and actors will be announced at the gala with an exclusive film music concert by Lenna Kuurmaa, Tanel Padar and Mart Sander’s Bel Etage swing orchestra.

    “La Famille Bélier” will be screened after the award ceremony as the international premiere.

     

    “The film world has been looking forward to this film and we are honoured to be able to present its international premiere at our closing ceremony,” says festival director Tiina Lokk.

    “La Famille Bélier” is the most anticipated French movie of this Christmas season,” comments Alexis Cassanet of SND.

    The film programme of the Black Nights runs until 30th November. Three most popular films will have additional screenings:

    29th November at 17:15 in Coca-Cola Plaza the Grand Prix awarded film.
    29th November at 19:30 Coca-Cola Plaza “Warsaw 44”.
    30th November at 21:15 Solaris “What We Do in the Shadows”

    The International Film Producers’ Association has designated Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival as a non-specialised competitive festival. Black Nights Film Festival is the 15th international film festival to be inducted to that category by FIAPF. The most influential film festival of the European North Eastern region takes place from 14th to 30th November. 

     

  • ‘Dys-‘ and ‘The Cold Heart’ win Audience Awards at 2014 Cellar Door Film Festival

    ‘Dys-‘ and ‘The Cold Heart’ win Audience Awards at 2014 Cellar Door Film Festival

    NEW DELHI: Dys-, the Canadian film directed by Maude Michaud, won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film while the German ‘The Cold Heart’ (Das Kalte Herz) directed by Hannes Rall emerged with the Audience Award for Best Short Film at Ottawa’s Cellar Door Film Festival (CDFF).

    ‘Dys’- screened at the festival to an engaged audience with Montreal director Maude Michaud in attendance along with actor Alex Goldrich, make-up effects artist Sebastien Montpetit, and sound operator Maxime Boileau. The Cold Heart screened in Cellar Door’s short film programme “From the Basement of the World: So Cold and So Dark.”  

    Cellar Door Film Festival was presented by the School for Studies in Art and Culture at Carleton University and the SPARTA Film Challenge, as well as its Supporting Sponsors the Carleton University Alumni Association, GNA Heating and Cooling, The Haunted Walk of Ottawa, and Used Ottawa.

    The Cellar Door Film Festival (CDFF) aims to be Ottawa’s first showcase of speculative cinema (horror, sci-fi, and fantasy), while celebrating the creativity of the Ottawa film scene and spotlighting the city as a setting for the sinister and supernatural. CDFF encourages film culture, education, and production in Ottawa by promoting the creation, screening, and distribution of local, national and international films in the Nation’s capital.

     

  • 10 Animated Shorts advance in Oscar Race, finale on 22 February next year

    10 Animated Shorts advance in Oscar Race, finale on 22 February next year

    NEW DELHI:  Ten animated shorts have been shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today for the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards. 58 pictures had originally qualified in the category.

     

    The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by the title along with their production companies:

     

    1.      ‘The Bigger Picture’ director Daisy Jacobs and producer Christopher Hees. (National Film and Television School)

     

    2.      ‘Coda,’ director Alan Holly. (And Maps And Plans)

     

    3.      ‘The Dam Keeper’. Directors Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi (Tonko House)

     

    4.      ‘Duet’. Director Glen Keane (Glen Keane Productions and ATAP)

     

    5.      ‘Feast’. Director Patrick Osborne and producer Kristina Reed (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

     

    6.      ‘Footprints’. Director Bill Plympton. (Bill Plympton Studio)

     

    7.      ‘Me and My Moulton’. Director Torill Kove (Mikrofilm in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada)

     

    8.      ‘The Numberlys’. Directors William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg (Moonbot Studios)

     

    9.      ‘A Single Life’ Director Joris Oprins (Job, Joris and Marieke)

     

    10.  ‘Symphony No. 42’ Director Réka Bucsi (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest)

     

    The Academy’s short films and feature animation branch reviewing committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles. The branch members will now select three to five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist.  Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December. The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 15 January in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

    The Oscars will be held on 22 February at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

  • ‘Interstellar’ continues to dominate south east Asian screens

    ‘Interstellar’ continues to dominate south east Asian screens

    NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar topped the Greater China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South Korea box office for the second consecutive weekend.
     
    In South Korea, the sci-fi epic earned an additional 14.4 billion (US$13.1 million) from 1.79 million admissions, representing a 6.5 per cent week-on-week increase. After 11 days in cinemas, it has earned 38.7 billion (US$35.1 million) from 4.84 million admissions. It is already the third-highest grossing foreign film in South Korea this year.
     
    In Greater China where it opened several days later than most of the world, the sci-fi epic opened in Mainland China last Wednesday. Released in 2-D and IMAX, it earned RMB259 million (US$42.2 million) from approximately 7.19 million admissions.
     
    After a slow start, grosses picked up considerably over the weekend, earning RMB194 million (US$31.6 million) from approximately 5.38 million admissions between Friday and Sunday. It represented approximately 29.5 per cent of all screenings over the weekend.
     
    Four years ago, Nolan’s Inception (2010) made RMB101 million (US$16.5 million) in its first five days, and RMB475 million (US$77.5 million) during its theatrical run.
     
    Interstellar will have to defend the top spot from Wong Fei- hung reboot Rise of the Legend and World War II war film Fury this weekend.
     
    Interstellar also remained at the top of the box office in Taiwan, earning NT$19.9 million (US$649,000) in Taipei after a week-on-week drop of only 9 per cent. After two weekends, the sci-fi epic has made NT$56.9 million (US$1.85 million) in the capital.
     
    In Hong Kong, Interstellar had a small week-on-week drop in its second weekend. From 45 locations, it made an additional HK$11.2 million (US$1.44 million) between Thursday and Sunday, representing a week-on-week drop of only 4 per cent.

     

    After two weekends, the film has made HK$27.2 million (US$3.50 million).