ITV

Category: Movies

  • TV premiere of Daniel Craig’s ‘Spectre’ on 23 October

    TV premiere of Daniel Craig’s ‘Spectre’ on 23 October

    MUMBAI: Movies Now is all geared up to air the television premiere of the Daniel Craig starrer James Bond movie Spectre. With Diwali round the corner, the movie will hit the TV screens on 23 October at 1 pm and a repeat telecast at 9 pm.

    Bond fans are also going to be treated to some prizes which are up for grabs during the premiere with a high-decibel marketing campaign. The channel has designed a four-pronged approach to engage with its audience, focusing on on-air, OOH, on-ground and digital mediums.

    It has roped in multiple partners for the premiere which is presented by Amazon, co presented by Huawei, driven by Ford, partnered by Airtel and in association with Raymond. The Experiential Marketing partner is Barcode.

    “James Bond is one of the most iconic characters from Hollywood and Spectre was one of the highest grossing movies in India in 2015. While all television premieres on Movies Now have always received a phenomenal response from viewers and advertisers, as category leaders we are the going the extra mile for Spectre because Bond holds a very special place in the hearts of Indians. The main focus of our marketing campaign is to reach out to a mass audience, targeting both Bond franchise loyalists and movie enthusiasts. With Spectre, we hope to re-create the same box office magic and success on TV,” said Times Television Network English Entertainment Cluster and Zoom senior vice president and head Vivek Srivastava.

    Besides promoting the premiere on the Times Television Network and various other channels across the Indian TV spectrum, Movies Now has also announced an exclusive In-movie Watch and Win contest. 4 lucky winners stand a chance to win an iPhone 7 each; all that they need to do is give a missed call and answer simple questions based on the movie.

    With a 10 city outdoor campaign across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad, the channel is supplementing this as an on-ground activation across 500 bars, which culminates in a mega-event of 3 simultaneous invite-only Bond-themed Spectre Parties held in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

    Continuing with their focus on engaging with the urban youth, the channel’s digital initiatives include a special ‘Which Bond Are You?’ Instagram quiz and a day-long Twitter contest to be held on 23rd October with an iPhone7 and other cool prizes up for grabs.

  • Jio MAMI: Royal Stag Barrel joins Star to promote short films

    Jio MAMI: Royal Stag Barrel joins Star to promote short films

    NEW DELHI: The Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star has managed to involve Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films to provide a platform within the short films category.

    Pernod Ricard India assistant vice-president, marketing, Raja Banerji, said “Not only are short films emerging as powerful as long feature films attracting great audience online, but are also attracting great talent from the mainstream film industry. Keeping pace with the changing times, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is happy to own the short film category at Mumbai Film Festival.”

    Jio MAMI with star festival director Anupama Chopra said “In an article titled ‘Does Cinema need Short Films,’ New Yorker film critic Richard Brody wrote: The short film doesn’t supplant the feature; it nourishes it. It doesn’t make a filmmaker’s career, but it augments it, just as a brief visit to a friend may bring a wise word that may stick with a person for a lifetime. Or, to put it another way, movie theatres are like restaurants, which offer a chance for a good long talk; but there are also cafés for a chat, and the cinema needs those, too. I absolutely agree. Which is why I’m thrilled that Jio MAMI with Star is partnering with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large short films for this category. We hope that something wonderful will emerge.”

    Royal Stag Jio MAMI with Star co-created a unique contest for aspiring filmmakers. It will inspire young film-makers across the country to create original short films and provide them the right platform to showcase their work. The winning short film will screen at the festival and the director will get an opportunity to intern with VCF. The contest will be judged by an eminent jury comprising actor Tisca Chopra, renowned film critic Anupama Chopra and festival creative director Smriti Kiran.

    Kiran said, “This association opens up the short film piece at the festival and that is very exciting. We are glad to be partners with Royal.”

    Themed on the objective of “keep perfecting”, the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is a platform for aspiring directors to feature along with mainstream Bollywood directors and chase their creative energy to establish themselves. The platform gives a stage to storytellers to showcase their artistic creativity and reach out to their target audience through the online world as the brand urges them to push for perfection when it comes to filmmaking.

    Royal Stag Large Short Films (LSF) is a portal that is the hub of Indian short films. LSF is a parallel platform for indie films that can take co-creation with social media to the next level. Adhiraj Bose is the face of the platform.

  • Jio MAMI: Royal Stag Barrel joins Star to promote short films

    Jio MAMI: Royal Stag Barrel joins Star to promote short films

    NEW DELHI: The Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star has managed to involve Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films to provide a platform within the short films category.

    Pernod Ricard India assistant vice-president, marketing, Raja Banerji, said “Not only are short films emerging as powerful as long feature films attracting great audience online, but are also attracting great talent from the mainstream film industry. Keeping pace with the changing times, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is happy to own the short film category at Mumbai Film Festival.”

    Jio MAMI with star festival director Anupama Chopra said “In an article titled ‘Does Cinema need Short Films,’ New Yorker film critic Richard Brody wrote: The short film doesn’t supplant the feature; it nourishes it. It doesn’t make a filmmaker’s career, but it augments it, just as a brief visit to a friend may bring a wise word that may stick with a person for a lifetime. Or, to put it another way, movie theatres are like restaurants, which offer a chance for a good long talk; but there are also cafés for a chat, and the cinema needs those, too. I absolutely agree. Which is why I’m thrilled that Jio MAMI with Star is partnering with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large short films for this category. We hope that something wonderful will emerge.”

    Royal Stag Jio MAMI with Star co-created a unique contest for aspiring filmmakers. It will inspire young film-makers across the country to create original short films and provide them the right platform to showcase their work. The winning short film will screen at the festival and the director will get an opportunity to intern with VCF. The contest will be judged by an eminent jury comprising actor Tisca Chopra, renowned film critic Anupama Chopra and festival creative director Smriti Kiran.

    Kiran said, “This association opens up the short film piece at the festival and that is very exciting. We are glad to be partners with Royal.”

    Themed on the objective of “keep perfecting”, the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is a platform for aspiring directors to feature along with mainstream Bollywood directors and chase their creative energy to establish themselves. The platform gives a stage to storytellers to showcase their artistic creativity and reach out to their target audience through the online world as the brand urges them to push for perfection when it comes to filmmaking.

    Royal Stag Large Short Films (LSF) is a portal that is the hub of Indian short films. LSF is a parallel platform for indie films that can take co-creation with social media to the next level. Adhiraj Bose is the face of the platform.

  • India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    NEW DELHI: Even as PEMRA’s ban on Indian content looms, the Indian Government has made it clear that it will not create any impediment for the release of producer-director Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, among others.

    It is just a matter of a few hours when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into force.

    PEMRA’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    But, India’s home minister Rajnath Singh has assured smooth release of Fawad Khan-starring movie in India while talking to film producer Mukesh Bhatt who is also the president of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India.

    After the meeting with the minister in Delhi, Bhatt said, “Rajnathji said he will speak to the chief minister of every state, and assured that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release without any violence or issue.”

    The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a breakaway faction of the regional saffron brigade, had earlier said they would not allow release of any film featuring Pakistani artistes.

    The Indian Guild had subsequently passed a resolution asking the Government to ensure that films that were either ready for release or were under production and featured Pakistani artistes should be allowed.

    Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Johar’s Dharma Productions had met the minister in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the upcoming film. To a question about a ban of Indian films in Pakistan, Bhatt told newspersons that it did not make any difference to India since most Indian films shown in Pakistan were pirated.

    Johar had earlier appealed against stalling the release, saying he would not engage with talent from Pakistan in future.

    MNS continued their protests as the party rejected Johar’s statement that he will not “engage with talent” from Pakistan in future.

    The Maharashtra government has, however, assured protection to cinemas where the film will be screened from Diwali weekend.

  • India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    NEW DELHI: Even as PEMRA’s ban on Indian content looms, the Indian Government has made it clear that it will not create any impediment for the release of producer-director Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, among others.

    It is just a matter of a few hours when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into force.

    PEMRA’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    But, India’s home minister Rajnath Singh has assured smooth release of Fawad Khan-starring movie in India while talking to film producer Mukesh Bhatt who is also the president of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India.

    After the meeting with the minister in Delhi, Bhatt said, “Rajnathji said he will speak to the chief minister of every state, and assured that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release without any violence or issue.”

    The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a breakaway faction of the regional saffron brigade, had earlier said they would not allow release of any film featuring Pakistani artistes.

    The Indian Guild had subsequently passed a resolution asking the Government to ensure that films that were either ready for release or were under production and featured Pakistani artistes should be allowed.

    Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Johar’s Dharma Productions had met the minister in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the upcoming film. To a question about a ban of Indian films in Pakistan, Bhatt told newspersons that it did not make any difference to India since most Indian films shown in Pakistan were pirated.

    Johar had earlier appealed against stalling the release, saying he would not engage with talent from Pakistan in future.

    MNS continued their protests as the party rejected Johar’s statement that he will not “engage with talent” from Pakistan in future.

    The Maharashtra government has, however, assured protection to cinemas where the film will be screened from Diwali weekend.

  • ‘Thithi’ to open Dharmashala fest; to screen 45 features and shorts

    ‘Thithi’ to open Dharmashala fest; to screen 45 features and shorts

    NEW DELHI: A total of 45 features and shorts are to screened at the fifth Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) to be held from 3 to 6 November.

    The Festival to be held at the Tibetan Children’s Village, Dharamshala, will have 27 Features and 18 shorts, apart from four video installations.

    Presented in collaboration with long-term partners Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, the festival is also supported by theHimachal Pradesh government and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). It is curated by festival directors Ritu Sarin andTenzing Sonam, along with associate director Raman Chawla, filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni (short films programme) and children’s media specialist Monica Wahi (children’s films programme).

    Raam Reddy’s critically acclaimed Thithi will be the opening night film while India’s Oscar entry Vetri Raman’s compelling Tamil drama Interrogation will close the festival.

    This year’s programme includes feature films, shorts, children’s films, video installations, masterclasses, workshops and community outreach events—offering a selection of the best in contemporary independent cinema.

    DIFF will showcase unconventional, adventurous works that couple cinematic experimentation with pressing political and social concerns.

    This year’s festival also has a strong contingent of regional Indian and Asian films. Fifteen filmmakers from across India and the world will present their work at DIFF 2015.Most of the films have been screened at prestigious international festivals and several are making their Indian premieres.

    Veteran filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza will also be attending and participating in a conversation with Programmer Curator and Author Aseem Chhabra.

    Some of the foreign filmmakers coming include Pimpaka Towira (The Island Funeral), Boo Junfeng (Apprentice), Chow Kwun-Wai (Ten Years), Jeon Soo-il (A Korean in Paris), Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami (Sonita), Sean McAllister (Syrian Love Story), Nguyễn Trinh Thi (Vietnam The Movie), and Tenzin Dasel and Rémi Caritey (Royal Café).

    Indian filmmakers participating are Rajiv Ravi (Kammatipaadam), Umesh Kulkarni (Highway), Raam Reddy (Thithi), Sanjeev Kumar (Circles of the Mind) (Man de Phere), Pushpa Rawat (The Turn) (Mordh), and Bauddhayan Mukherji (The Violin Player).

    Anna Vilgelmi, producer and associate director of The Wounded Angel, will also be attending.

    Others expected are the lead actor of Lathe Joshi, Chitranjan Giri, as well as Girish Kulkarni (TBC) who is acting in Highway.

    Special local interest this year comes in the form of a Spotlight onKangra Valley which features Dharamshala director Sanjeev Kumar’s feature Man de Phere (Gaddi language); Prabhijit Dhamijia’s short Asmad and Steffi Giaracuni’s documentary about a legendary Himachal architect, Didi Contractor: Marrying the Earth to the Building.

    A selection of single-channel video installations from Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary’s private collection: Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme’s Collapse and The Incidental Insurgents (Parts 1 and 2), and Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam’s Some Questions on the Nature of Your Existence will also be presented.

    Ritu and Tenzing told indiantelevison.com: “As we celebrate our fifth edition, we hope to build on the hallmarks that have made DIFF such a special event. After reviewing hundreds of films over many months, we have put together a slate of films that embody the spirit of independent cinema, that demonstrate strong directorial vision and a willingness to take risks, and that tell stories that are relevant in today’s world.”

  • ‘Thithi’ to open Dharmashala fest; to screen 45 features and shorts

    ‘Thithi’ to open Dharmashala fest; to screen 45 features and shorts

    NEW DELHI: A total of 45 features and shorts are to screened at the fifth Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) to be held from 3 to 6 November.

    The Festival to be held at the Tibetan Children’s Village, Dharamshala, will have 27 Features and 18 shorts, apart from four video installations.

    Presented in collaboration with long-term partners Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, the festival is also supported by theHimachal Pradesh government and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). It is curated by festival directors Ritu Sarin andTenzing Sonam, along with associate director Raman Chawla, filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni (short films programme) and children’s media specialist Monica Wahi (children’s films programme).

    Raam Reddy’s critically acclaimed Thithi will be the opening night film while India’s Oscar entry Vetri Raman’s compelling Tamil drama Interrogation will close the festival.

    This year’s programme includes feature films, shorts, children’s films, video installations, masterclasses, workshops and community outreach events—offering a selection of the best in contemporary independent cinema.

    DIFF will showcase unconventional, adventurous works that couple cinematic experimentation with pressing political and social concerns.

    This year’s festival also has a strong contingent of regional Indian and Asian films. Fifteen filmmakers from across India and the world will present their work at DIFF 2015.Most of the films have been screened at prestigious international festivals and several are making their Indian premieres.

    Veteran filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza will also be attending and participating in a conversation with Programmer Curator and Author Aseem Chhabra.

    Some of the foreign filmmakers coming include Pimpaka Towira (The Island Funeral), Boo Junfeng (Apprentice), Chow Kwun-Wai (Ten Years), Jeon Soo-il (A Korean in Paris), Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami (Sonita), Sean McAllister (Syrian Love Story), Nguyễn Trinh Thi (Vietnam The Movie), and Tenzin Dasel and Rémi Caritey (Royal Café).

    Indian filmmakers participating are Rajiv Ravi (Kammatipaadam), Umesh Kulkarni (Highway), Raam Reddy (Thithi), Sanjeev Kumar (Circles of the Mind) (Man de Phere), Pushpa Rawat (The Turn) (Mordh), and Bauddhayan Mukherji (The Violin Player).

    Anna Vilgelmi, producer and associate director of The Wounded Angel, will also be attending.

    Others expected are the lead actor of Lathe Joshi, Chitranjan Giri, as well as Girish Kulkarni (TBC) who is acting in Highway.

    Special local interest this year comes in the form of a Spotlight onKangra Valley which features Dharamshala director Sanjeev Kumar’s feature Man de Phere (Gaddi language); Prabhijit Dhamijia’s short Asmad and Steffi Giaracuni’s documentary about a legendary Himachal architect, Didi Contractor: Marrying the Earth to the Building.

    A selection of single-channel video installations from Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary’s private collection: Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme’s Collapse and The Incidental Insurgents (Parts 1 and 2), and Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam’s Some Questions on the Nature of Your Existence will also be presented.

    Ritu and Tenzing told indiantelevison.com: “As we celebrate our fifth edition, we hope to build on the hallmarks that have made DIFF such a special event. After reviewing hundreds of films over many months, we have put together a slate of films that embody the spirit of independent cinema, that demonstrate strong directorial vision and a willingness to take risks, and that tell stories that are relevant in today’s world.”

  • New films: The business of a few lakhs

    New films: The business of a few lakhs

    The dull pre-Diwali period has taken its toll. The films released recently as well as last Friday have fallen like nine pins. Some of these have been forced to commit hara-kiri as they would not be able to get playtime at the cinemas in peak period when the flow of star cast films is regular. The opening day collections of almost all new releases remained in lakhs, and far away from a crore mark.

    Saat Uchakkey from which the trade and people had some hope hardly earned money. Despite a number of known character artistes in the film and a comedy label, its crude and lewd language besides overacting by a few sunk it. The collections remained poor from day one and did not improve over the weekend. The film collected 90 lakh for its opening weekend.

    Beiimaan Love tried to play the Sunny Leone card to draw the audience. The makers seem to have hit on the idea rather late in the ‘skin specialist ‘star’s life who has lost her novelty value soon after she hit the screen. Whatever she had to offer does not seem to sell now. Sadly, the film had nothing else to offer. The film fell short of Rs 1-crore mark in its first weekend.

    Motu Patlu (3-D: Animation) could not draw kids, its target audience. The film is more likely to reach its viewers through home entertainment. The opening-day collections remained low, and the improvement hoped for over Saturday and Sunday was only marginal as the film managed Rs 1.4 crore for its opening weekend.

    Fuddu had a disastrous reception at the box office with the first day collections ranging between two to three lakh and managing to collect just about 10 lakh for first three days.

    Anna, a biopic on Anna Hazare, a celebrated activist, added to the long list of biopics that don’t work. The audience to the film remained that of total indifference as, despite a controlled budget, the film will be a total loser. The film could not cross Rs one lakh collection figure on its opening day and remained in the same range through its first weekend.

    Mirzya, after a poor opening weekend of Rs 5.2 crore, was faced with more miseries over next four day to show Rs 8.4 crore for its first week.

    Tutak Tutak Tutiya failed badly. The title as well as the bad casting affected the film’s opening, offering no chance to improve. The film collected Rs 2.75 crore in its first week.

    M S Dhoni: The Untold Story benefitted the most with a continuous flow of poor films in opposition and giving it a free run at the box office. The film collected Rs 24.8 crore in its second week to take its two week tally to Rs 107.4 crore.

    Pink collected Rs 1.6 crore in its fourth week to take its four week total to Rs 66.9 crore.

  • New films: The business of a few lakhs

    New films: The business of a few lakhs

    The dull pre-Diwali period has taken its toll. The films released recently as well as last Friday have fallen like nine pins. Some of these have been forced to commit hara-kiri as they would not be able to get playtime at the cinemas in peak period when the flow of star cast films is regular. The opening day collections of almost all new releases remained in lakhs, and far away from a crore mark.

    Saat Uchakkey from which the trade and people had some hope hardly earned money. Despite a number of known character artistes in the film and a comedy label, its crude and lewd language besides overacting by a few sunk it. The collections remained poor from day one and did not improve over the weekend. The film collected 90 lakh for its opening weekend.

    Beiimaan Love tried to play the Sunny Leone card to draw the audience. The makers seem to have hit on the idea rather late in the ‘skin specialist ‘star’s life who has lost her novelty value soon after she hit the screen. Whatever she had to offer does not seem to sell now. Sadly, the film had nothing else to offer. The film fell short of Rs 1-crore mark in its first weekend.

    Motu Patlu (3-D: Animation) could not draw kids, its target audience. The film is more likely to reach its viewers through home entertainment. The opening-day collections remained low, and the improvement hoped for over Saturday and Sunday was only marginal as the film managed Rs 1.4 crore for its opening weekend.

    Fuddu had a disastrous reception at the box office with the first day collections ranging between two to three lakh and managing to collect just about 10 lakh for first three days.

    Anna, a biopic on Anna Hazare, a celebrated activist, added to the long list of biopics that don’t work. The audience to the film remained that of total indifference as, despite a controlled budget, the film will be a total loser. The film could not cross Rs one lakh collection figure on its opening day and remained in the same range through its first weekend.

    Mirzya, after a poor opening weekend of Rs 5.2 crore, was faced with more miseries over next four day to show Rs 8.4 crore for its first week.

    Tutak Tutak Tutiya failed badly. The title as well as the bad casting affected the film’s opening, offering no chance to improve. The film collected Rs 2.75 crore in its first week.

    M S Dhoni: The Untold Story benefitted the most with a continuous flow of poor films in opposition and giving it a free run at the box office. The film collected Rs 24.8 crore in its second week to take its two week tally to Rs 107.4 crore.

    Pink collected Rs 1.6 crore in its fourth week to take its four week total to Rs 66.9 crore.

  • Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    NEW DELHI: The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd today expressed “genuine concern of all those film producers who have invested heavily in films featuring artistes from across the border.”

    Even as it expressed unflinching support to the Central Government and solidarity with the Armed Forces on their supreme sacrifice at Uri during the recent counter-terrorism operations, it noted there had been some discourse in the media recently with regard to certain threats to disrupt the release of these movies.

    The Guild, which represents most of the active Hindi film producers, said there were many producers who had either already shot their films or were in the process of completing their unfinished films prior to the escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, including Karan Johar’s soon to be released film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ which has also been certified by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

    Similarly, there are many other films which are scheduled to be released in months ahead including ‘Dear Zindagi’ and ‘Raees’ which also feature artistes from across the border.

    Guild President Mukesh Bhatt said, “The Guild in no uncertain terms confirms that the film industry stands in unison with the Government’s recent steps to counter terrorism and will naturally abide by decision with regard to government’s policy on issuance of work visa to foreign artistes. We would however urge the government to appreciate that the film producers who have already shot their films or are in the process of completing their unfinished films should not end up paying heavy price for no fault of theirs.”

    He further added: “The Central Government has taken several steps in the past to foster cultural exchanges by inviting industry representatives to participate in the Government’s efforts to improve our relationship with Pakistan”.

    Meanwhile, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India President Nitin Datar has requested all theatres to ban Karan Johar’s film which stars Pak actor Fawad Khan, who was also seen in ‘Kapoor and Sons’ and earlier in ‘Khoobsoorat’ opposite Sonam Kapoor .