Category: Movies

NEW DELHI: Veteran actress Rekha will inaugurate the 39th International Film Festival of India in Panaji on 22 November in the presence of Goa Governor S S Sidhu, Chief Minister Digambar Kamath, and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Minister Anand Sharma.

Talented actor Kamal Haasan will be the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony on 2 December at which the awards will also be presented.

While upcoming actress Amrita Rao will conduct the opening ceremony, Rekha will be assisted by Telugu actress Illina D Cruz, who is originally from Goa, in lighting the traditional lamp.

Additional Director General (Media and Communications) and Film Festival Director S M Khan said at a press conference here that he did not like the term ‘Diya Girl’ and preferred to treat Illina as a Special Guest.

‘Song of Sparrows’ by the eminent Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi will be the closing film. No final decision has been taken yet on the opening film, Khan admitted.

Over 225 films from more than 30 countries will be screened at the festival in several sections.

Around Rs 250 million is being spent by the Directorate of Film Festivals of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which is organizing the annual Festival in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa and the Indian film industry. Panaji had been chosen as the permanent venue for the Festival in 2004.

A unique feature this year is the screening of four films made with the Taj Mahal – recognized once again recently as one of the seven wonders of the world – from the silent era in 1928 to the last one in 2005 made by Akbar Khan who will himself be attending the Festival. The other films are ‘Taj Mahal: A Celluloid Journey’ will be Shiraj (silent film) – 1928, Shah Jahan –1964, and Taj Mahal –1963.

The competition section will have 15 films from all over the world. These include My Mother’s Tears (Argentina/Germany), Rupantor (Transformation) (Bangladesh), The Shaft (China), Kanachivaram and Mahasatta (India), The Song of Sparrows (Iran), The Red Spot (Japan/Germany), Tulpan (Kazakhstan), Pensil (Malaysia), Ploning (Philippines) , Akasa Kusum (Sri Lanka), and The Coffin (Thailand).

While the main attraction will be the 56 films in the Cinema of the World section, another interesting section is Film India Worldwide which will showcase films made by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in collaboration with foreign filmmakers or made on Indian themes. The entries in this segment are Tandoori Love (Switzerland), Death Without Consent (USA), Barah Aana and Chaurasta-Cross Roads of Love (India). The films of eminent filmmakers Aki Kaurismaki (Finland), John Landis (USA) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong) will be screened in the Foreign Retrospectives.

There will be special tributes to filmmakers Peter Chan, who is chairing the international jury, and Niki Karimi who is also a member of the jury.

In addition, there will be 47 films (26 Feature Films and 21 Non-Features) in the Indian Panorama, the highest for any year since the Panorama was first started in 1978. Six international acclaimed Indian films from the pre-1950 are also being screened from the Treasures of the National Film Archives of India.

Seven films of all-time veterans Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, B Saroja Devi and Tapan Sinha are being presented in Lifetime Classics to pay a tribute to these personalities for the Lifetime Honour they received from the Government to mark 60 years of Indian Independence. The Indian section will also have a special tribute to the legendary Bimal Roy with six films by or on him, and LV Prasad with two films. A special section will be a tribute to 75 years of Kannada cinema.

The Festival will also pay homage to film personalities GP Sippy, BR Chopra, FC Mehra, Jayashree Gadkar, Raghuvaran, Mahendra Kapoor, Jeeva, Sridhar, Vijay Tendulkar and Nabendu Ghosh who passed away over the past year.

There will be special lecture on Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai who were pioneers in the era of Film Studios, by Kishwar Desai.

MUMBAI: Big Cinemas, part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and entertainment conglomerate Adlabs Films, has opened its first cinema in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

This has been done after the transformation of KG Cinema into KG BIG Cinema after architectural and technical renovation.

Big Cinemas had tied up with KG Cinemas in April 2008. The cinema has been non-operational from August due to the refurbishment. With four screens and a total capacity of 2325 seats, the multiplex is designed to assure utmost cinematic comforts and services.

According to Tushar Dhingra, COO of Big Cinemas: “Our focus has been to constantly innovate and provide a world class movie experience. We have received a favourable response from the KG BIG Cinemas’ moviegoers previously and are keen on increasing their enthusiasm.”

The refurbished KG Big Cinemas is now equipped with air-conditioned auditoriums, plush push back seats, floor lights, and hygienic washrooms. KG Big Cinemas will raise the bar of cinematic experience forever in Coimbatore.

While maintaining the original charm of the building, the cinema has also been refurbished with digital sound systems and superior Xenon projection systems in order to provide an international cinematic experience. For easy procurement of tickets, KG Big Cinemas has increased the number of Box Office counters, and also offers for the first time Internet booking options.

“Coimbatore is considered to be the Manchester of South India with a booming textile sector, engineering hub and plans for major IT players to start operations in the city. We are excited to see that our locations have transformed into destinations for guests who want to view movies in the most powerful format. We also see immense potential for this property thanks to its strategic location at Bungalow Road , Race Course,” added Dhingra.

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has banned the Kamaal Khan produced and acted film Deshdrohi for two-months, after Mumbai police’s report to the government.

A fresh review will be taken after sixty days. The film was slated to release on 14 November.

The movie was specially premiered for the Mumbai police, who complained that it is inappropriate to release the movie at this time as it may escalate tension between north Indians and the Marathi people in the state.

The film starring Khan, Gracy Singh, Kadar Khan, Aman Verma and Hrishitaa Bhatt, touches upon the sensitive migrant issue.

In the film Khan‘s character is beaten up in public places for being a “bhaiyya” (north Indian) and is told to leave Mumbai. He retaliates by saying that he is an Indian first and all the freedom fighters who fought for the country never thought whether they were North Indians or South Indians but only as Indians.

The timing of its release, as it comes soon after a recent spate of troubles, had the state worried.

MUMBAI: Singapore-based Toonz Entertainment, which owns Indian animation studio Toonz Animation, Gang of 7 Animation USA, and Ashok Amritraj‘s Hyde Park Entertainment have entered into an agreement to produce a CGI animated feature film The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

The film, which is based on the classic book by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz, chronicles the life of Santa Claus from an infant to an adult.

The film will be directed by Tom Tataranowicz, Rich Arons and Dick Sebast, who have supervised Disney, Marvel and Hanna Barbera features.

The project, which is under planning stage, may go on floors by end of this month at the Toonz Animation Studio in India. The movie is expected to be released in time for Christmas, 2010.

Hyde Park will distribute the picture internationally and share North American rights with G7 Animation.

“We at Toonz look forward to this challenging opportunity which would test our creative talents, and anticipate an exciting and quality production,” said Toonz Group CEO P Jayakumar.

“I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz. It’s wonderful to bring this classic origin story of Santa Claus to the screen, particularly this novel from such an amazing writer,” Hyde Park CEO Ashok Amritraj said.

“Amazingly enough, this is the first time an origin story, explaining Santa Claus and all the Christmas traditions, has ever come to the screen. We are pleased to bring this exciting fantasy to life,” stated G7 Animation head Tom Tataranowicz.

MUMBAI: Movie studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (Lionsgate) has posted a net loss in the second quarter (period ended 30 September) of $48.1 million, as against a loss of $58 million in the year-ago period.

The revenues of the company grew 8 per cent to $380.7 million, compared to $351.7 million in the prior year.

The company said that its plan to reduce staff of 41 positions, including 17 layoffs, and leaving 24 unfilled positions vacant since the start of a hiring freeze in the summer will save about $10 million in overhead a year.

Meanwhile, the overall motion picture revenues came to $312.2 million, up 29 per cent from $242.1 million in 2007. At the same time, theatrical revenue of $34 million was off 25 per cent from a year-ago‘s $45.3 million.

Home entertainment revenue rose 32 per cent to $178.3 million, up from $135.2 million in 2007. And TV revenue from the motion picture segment jumped 65 per cent to $61.9 million.

However, Lionsgate‘s international revenue dropped 8 per cent to $28.5 million, while TV production revenue fell 38 per cent to $68.5 million. Mandate Pictures division, acquired in September 2007, posted a revenue of $21.2 million.

MUMBAI: The trend of co-promotions and in-film advertisements is increasing, following the box office collections of films like Golmaal Returns and Fashion. The latest in the line is Dharma Productions‘ Dostana which will hit the theatre this Friday, 14 November.

Mates, Madison‘s film promotion and entertainment division, has got brands like Verve, Maybelline, Pantaloons, and Bookmyshow.com to associate with Dostana.

The brands are integrated keeping the storyline in mind. Priyanka Chopra aka Neha‘s Miami inspired look in the film carved the opportunity for a cosmetic brand.

Madison Mates CEO Darshana Bhalla said, “With Maybelline and Verve we wanted to be different and go beyond the ordinary and elevate the association to a much larger experience for the consumers.”

Along with launching the Dostana kit, Maybelline also launched a TV campaign. This was a co-promotion wherein ‘behind the scenes‘ footage was used for a TV commercial. Maybelline also used experiential marketing where customers were invited to experience Neha‘s Dostana look.

Pantaloons has decided to launch ‘the Dostana collection’, a range of apparel inspired from the movie. This collection is available across 41 Pantaloon outlets.

The web portal Bookmyshow.com has decided to let audience book tickets much in advance. This got carried on television as co-promotional spots and crafted a route for the early bookings of the film.

Mates is claiming to start strategising for the upcoming films such as Yuvvraaj, Ghajini, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Alladin, and Billo Barber.

MUMBAI: Yash Chopra, founder of Yashraj Films has been awarded the ‘FIAPF Award for outstanding achievement in film’ in the Asia-Pacific region. The Award is determined by International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

The jury grand prize was presented to The Prisoner (India), produced and directed by Pryas Gupta and Hongse Kangbaiyin (The Red Awn, China); and starring Best Actor nominee Rajat Kapoor.

Winners in the Asia Pacific screen awards for 2008 were announced in Queensland, Australia on Tuesday. Around 700 film industry celebrities from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States attended the ceremony.

Thirty two films representing 17 countries were finalists in the awards, with winners coming from India, Kazakhstan, Israel, Korea, Australia, Turkey, Iran and China the awards.

The awards were determined by an international jury headed by academy award nominated Australian director Bruce Beresford.

2008 APSA international jury president Bruce Beresford said “I was impressed by the quality and originality of the films and I have enjoyed the experience of being around so many talented filmmakers.”

Asia Pacific screen awards chairman Des Power said, “The Asia-Pacific region is the emerging giant of cinema. The quality and depth of story-telling amazed not only our jury this year but is certain to attract more audience at the global level. There is a growing fascination and respect for films from this diverse region. It is a tribute to the filmmakers that they now have a globally recognised award and the broadcast reach of CNN International to promote their work.”

MUMBAI

: Golmaal Returns, the sequel of superhit film Golmal, has managed to get approximately Rs 528 million at the box office since its theatrical release on 29 October.

In India, the movie collected Rs 473 million with the Mumbai circuit accounting for Rs 177.5 million, the company said in a statement.

Additionally, Golmaal Returns generated overseas revenues of Rs 55 million in its first weekend of release. In UK, it grossed Rs 15 million while Rs 10 million came from North America and Rs 20 million in the Middle East. The comedy film earned Rs 5.1 million in Pakistan.

Produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, the movie was released at 1,050 locations worldwide.

The film, directed by Rohit Shetty, starrs Ajay Devgan, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad Warsi and Shreyas Talpade reprising the role originally played by Sharman Joshi. Also, Kareena Kapoor, Anjana Sukhani, Amrita Arora and Celina Jaitley are new additions to the cast.

MUMBAI: Koffee Break Pictures Ltd has set up a new post production unit in Mumbai.

The new facility will provide end-to-end solutions for the post production and visual effects to feature films and television shows involving editing, finishing, computer graphics and sound facilities.

The company says that the unit will add significantly to its revenue due to the rapidly growing demand of visual effects and animation in the Indian and international film industry. Koffee Break Pictures is aiming to generate an annual revenue of Rs 180 million from the new unit.

“This new unit has the latest high-end systems installed, and will be proved efficient in providing end-to-end solutions in post production. We are targeting a revenue of Rs 1.5 million every month from this unit,” says Koffee Break Pictures CEO Varun Gada.

Apart from digital intermediate, the company will also be able to provide design and package services such as title sequences with 2D and 3D animation, video deliverables such as broadcast promos and multi format digital deliverables such as DVD deliverables.

At present, the new unit is working on the company’s second animation film Green Chic – Finding Dad. Prior to this, the company produced My Friend Ganesha in 2007.

Koffee Break Pictures already runs an animation studio in Mumbai.

MUMBAI: James Bond‘s franchise movie Quantum of Solace, which was released on 7 November across India, has collected Rs 170 million over the weekend.

Sony Pictures, which is distributing the film in India, is targeting a gross box collection of Rs 520 million. Casino Royale, the last Bond movie, had grossed Rs 420 million.

The secret agent‘s latest flick was released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, apart from English. It was released across 570 prints – 166 in English, 214 in Hindi, 100 in Tamil, 82 in Telugu and eight in digital.

The latest adventure of Daniel Craig has grossed $106.5 million across the world in 60 territories.

The film, which is slated to release in US on 14 November, has already broken the British record for a Friday opening, where it was released on 31 October. The 22nd Bond Film has managed to collect $7.99 million (?4.9 million) at UK cinemas on Friday, 31 October.