ITV

Category: Movies

  • 16th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Hyderabad

    HYDERABAD: The 16th International Children‘s Film Festival kicked off with eminent personanilites from films and politics gracing the event. The festival was jointly inaugurated by Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Andhra Pradesh CM K Rosaiah.


    The Andhra CM said that the state government had made a commitment to build a children’s film complex in the state. The Children’s Film Society, India, which organizes the Festival every alternate year, should be moved to Hyderabad.


    Meanwhile, Soni pointed out that the Telegu film ‘Amulyam’ had occupied a prominent place in the Festival in 2007. She said the cultural programme and cinema had been responsible for removing barriers and creating synergies with love and affection, and living up to the mandate of Pandit Nehru’s objective in setting up the CFSI, of children becoming global citizens.


    Rosaiah reminisced about the cinema of early days which had value-based messages. He hailed Nehru’s vision in setting up the CFSI, describing the first Prime Minister as the architect of modern India.


    Andhra Information and PR Minister Dr J Geeta Reddy stated that the Festival, which had been organized by the CFSI in cooperation with the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation and the city of Hyderabad, would be bringing the best entertainment to children beaming films across eleven screens in eight cinema houses.


    Eminent lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, who has now taken to writing books for children, called upon everyone concerned to ensure that the creative films made by CFSI over the years should be released.


    CFSI chairperson and actress Nandita Das wished all the children a very happy children’s day and also introduced the international and children juries who would judge the films in the International Competition and the Asian Panorama – the first time when Asian films are being adjudged separately.


    The joyous momoment was somewhat spoilt by former Union Minister and eminent filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao who accused the Central Government of being unfair to filmmakers from Andhra Pradesh.


    Others present included Vishal Bhardwaj, film stars Venkatesh and Illeana, child actor Darsheel Safary, filmmaker Jahnu Barua, I & B Joint secretary (Films) V B Pyarelal, CFSI Chief Executive Officer Sushovan Banerjee, and jury members Nagesh Kukunoor, Ashish Vidyarthi and Revathy.


    The entire programme concluded with the screening of the Austrian film ‘Mozart in China’ by director Bernd Neuburger which has been shot in China.

  • SPAA to ask Aus government for $84m cash benefit

    MUMBAI: The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) will formally ask the federal government for a one-off $84m (A$90m) help for production of feature films.


    SPAA will ask for a three-year fund on the basis that the sector has to attract institutional investors in order to grow and that the producer offset (PO) is not working as expected, in part because of the global financial crisis and the negative effect it is having on independent film.


    Under the proposal, a film would need 75-80% of its budget in place to be eligible, SPAA executive director Geoff Brown told Screendaily.com.


    It would not be for films regarded (in Australia) as big budget, such as this year‘s box office hit Bruce Beresford‘s Mao‘s Last Dancer or Stuart Beattie‘s directorial debut Tomorrow: Where The War Began, which is in production. The budget cap could be $23m (A$25m).


    SPAA wants the fund run by a chief executive answerable to a panel of highly experienced players. More details will be known once the submission is finalised by mid-December.
     

  • Chinese Ent giants to invest $88m in film and TV production

    MUMBAI: Two entertainment giants in China Shanda Interactive and Hunan Broadcasting and Television Group have formed a joint venture that will invest $87.8m (RMB600m) in film and TV production.


    The joint venture will also engage in other related businesses such as agency services.


    Its first project will be a remake of TV series, Princess Huanzhu, which was a national hit from 1998 to 2001 and helped raise the stardom of actors such as Zhao Wei, Fan Bingbing and Huang Xiaoming. 


    It will also produce a film adapted from Xing Chen Bian (Evolution Of Beginnings), one of the most popular novels from Shanda‘s online literature site, Shanda Literature.


    Shanda is a major player in China‘s huge online games industry, producing popular multi-player role-playing games and advanced casual online games in mainland China.


    The joint venture marks a further step by Shanda into film and TV production. In 2007, Shanda Literature sold the film rights of Gui Chui Deng (Ghost Blows Out The Candle) to Shanghai-based Meridian Pictures.


    Hunan TV is China‘s top provincial broadcaster, known for producing the successful reality TV singing contest Super Girl.
     

  • Sony’s 2012 grosses $160m overseas

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI)has given a major surprise with its film 2012 releasing in 12,685 screens in 105 markets to rope in $160m – the biggest international opening of all-time for a non-sequel.


    The fi;m ranks fifth in the all-time overseas opening weekend grosses.It grossed $65m number one North American launch to recoup its $200m production cost in its first worldwide weekend with a $225m global haul.


    The film pulled off a remarkable feat by ranking numero uno in all its markets.


    It grossed $17.2m in France from 750 screens, $15.3m in Russia from 840 in the second biggest opening ever behind Ice Age 3, $12.4m in Germany from 1,002 and $12.3m in China from 1,946 screens.


    Elsewhere the disaster movie grossed $10.8m in the UK from 828, $9.9m in South Korea from 622, $8.1m in Spain from 585, $6.9m in Italy from 520, $5.5m in Australia from 405, $5m in Brazil from 551 and $4.9m in Mexico from 781.


    In India the film amassed $4m xfrom 674 in the second biggest ever industry opening behind Sony‘s Spider-Man 3, $3.9m in Poland from 141, $3.4m in Taiwan from 205 in the tenth biggest ever industry opening, $2.8m in Thailand from 185 in the fourth biggest ever industry opening, $2.3m in Malaysia from 136 in the second biggest ever industry opening behind PPI‘s Transformers 2, $2.1m in Turkey from 178, $2.1m in Belgium from 88 in the tenth biggest ever industry opening, $2.05m in Holland from 127, and $2.04m in Hong Kong from 55.


    The film amassed $1.9m in Greece from 138 in the seventh biggest ever industry opening, $1.9m in Switzerland from 121, $1.7m in the Philippines from 100 in the tenth biggest ever industry opening, $1.6m in Austria from 97, $1.6m in Singapore from 95, $1.6m in Sweden from 110, $1.2m in Indonesia from 75 in the sixth biggest ever industry opening, $1.2m in Denmark from 74, $1.2m in Norway from 90, $1.1m in Ukraine from 91, $1.1m in UAE from 39, and $1m in Chile in the eighth biggest ever industry opening.

  • CJ CGV to open third multiplex in China on 19 November

    MUMBAI: South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV will open its third multiplex in China on 19 November at the CGV Wuhan,located in the capital of Hubei Province. The plex will have six screens, 940 seats and also a 3D projection.


    In 2006, the exhibitor launched into the China market. CJ CGV has two other multiplexes in Shanghai.


    said Kang Seok Hee, head of CJ CGV, which is an affiliate of leading South Korean distributor CJ Entertainment., “CGV Wuhan is launched on the foundation of the development network and know-how about operating on the ground in China that we‘ve accumulated since 2006, and it will play a big role as a bridge for Korean films and Korean Wave culture,” “CGV will expand to Beijing and other cities to have more than 30 multiplexes within five years.”


    CGV has partnered with local exhibitor for the Wuhan project.


    The new multiplex is to open in Wuhan Xintiandi, designed along the lines of the shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai‘s Xintiandi.


    Collaborating with the Korean cultural centre in Shanghai, CGV is mulling to mark the opening with a Korean Culture Festival featuring pop and traditional music concerts, a taekwondo show and arts and crafts.

  • AB Corp launches 3-week marketing campaign for ‘Paa’

    MUMBAI: Every father- son, son- father relationship will explore new horizons starting 14 November till the release of Paa on 4 December as the marketing strategy with ‘Paa and I‘ kick starts.


    Paa, made by AB Corp along with Saraswati Creations in association with Big Pictures and produced by MAD Entertainment, is one of the most awaited films of recent times with it generating huge interest amongst filmgoers.


    In order to make Children‘s Day a day of celebration, in phase I of the campaign, relationship activities have been planned at Oberoi Mall, Goregaon and Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund in Mumbai on 14 and 15 November where fathers and children can get together to engage themselves in various fun-filled activities and get lucky with Paa merchandise.


    Those who miss the fun that weekend can catch it on the subsequent weekends till the release of the film at various other malls in the city. The campaign will be held on 21 and 22 November at Inorbit Mall and Phoenix Mills and on 28 and 29 November at Infinti Mall.


    As a part of its consumer engagement promotion strategy the ‘Paa and I‘ campaign has been aimed at going beyond standard hygiene practices of print, media, TV promos and outdoors to break the clutter and grab the audience‘s attention by leveraging the concept that the average man will best connect with – the relationship of a father and a son.
     

  • Wide Pictures acquires major US titles for exhibition in Spain

    MUMBAI: Spanish distributor Wide Pictures has acquired distribution rights of major US films that includes Robert Redford‘s The Company You Keep and David Schwimmer‘s Trust, starring Clive Owen.


    Wide Pictures‘ major acquisition at the recently concluded America Film Market was The Company You Keep from Voltage Pictures. The film has Redford essaying former radical activist who goes on the run for the sake of his young daughter alter his identity is revealed.


    Other pick-ups by the distribution include David Schwimmer‘s Trust starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener as parents whose teenage daughter becomes a victim of an online sexual predator.


    Another acquistion is Malcolm Venville‘s Henry‘s Crime produced by and starring Keanu Reeves as a good man falsely accused of a bank robbery in Buffalo.


    Gela Babluani‘s 13 from Paramount Vantage, a remake of the director‘s own 2005 film, which is set to star Jason Statham has also landed in the Wide Pictures‘ basket.


    The company has also picked up Roselyne Bosch‘s $27m French drama The Round Up (La Rafle) that stars Jean Reno in a controversial film about France‘s collaboration in the holocaust.

  • Kimberly Fox parts ways with QED International as sales chief

    MUMBAI: In a move that both parties said was amicable, QED International executive vice-president of worldwide sales and distribution Kimberly Fox has parted from the LA-based company.


    Fox, a familiar face on the market circuit, said that she felt that it was time for a change. Her contract is due to expire at the end of the year. She joined the company at its inception stage in early 2006.


    It is understood that QED International CEO and founder Bill Block and COO Paul Hanson are on the look out for people to strengthen its new sales force following the recent departure of sales executive Tatyana Joffe.
     

  • Louis D’Esposito is Marvel Studios co-president

    MUMBAI: As Marvel Entertainment prepares to hand over the keys of its comic book kingdom to Disney, it has started effecting major staff changes in its films division.


    In a major move, Louis D‘Esposito has been elevated from the post of president of physical production to co-president of the studio. He will work along with Kevin Feige to oversee the studio‘s production schedule. The twosome will report to Marvel Entertainment CEO Ike Perlmutter.


    D‘Esposito had been in an important position and was overseeing the budgets and timelines of Marvel‘s slate of self-financed films, including the Iron Man franchise, The Incredible Hulk reboot, as well as Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers. 


    Talking about D‘Esposito Feige said, “an incredible friend and collaborator, and his expertise within the film industry steering the budgetary and operational demands of moviemaking is instrumental in taking our characters from the pages of comic books to the big screen.”


    D‘Esposito served as an executive producer on Iron Man and its sequel.
     

  • ‘Paju’ to Open Rocarno Film Festival

    MUMBAI: South Korean film Paju, the second directorial venture of South Korean director Park Chan-ok, will open the upcoming Rocarno International Film Festival in Rotterdam.


    Paju, which premiered in the Pusan International Film Festival, has been applauded as one of the most outstanding local creations of the year, with it drawing a realistic portrait of modern Korean society through the eyes of a young woman.


    Director Park won the Tiger Award in the 2003 Rotterdam film festival for her debut film Jealousy Is My Middle Name that was well-received internationally.


    The film becomes the first Korean film ever to open the Dutch film festival.


    The 39th Rotterdam festival will run Jan. 27-Feb. 7 next year in the Netherlands‘ port city.