Category: Movies

MUMBAI: The 3rd annual Estes Park Film Festival, which will be screening around 40 independent films from all across the globe, will commence on 11 September at Park Theatre in Colorado.

This year‘s line-up for the feature film segment includes films like Broken Fences and War Eagle, Arkansas.

Documentaries at the festival include Six Seconds of Freedom, which is about the Angola Prison Rodeo, and RiverWebs, about the world of river ecosystems and the science that explores them.

Beauty Mark, a film that chronicles tri-athlete and marathon runner Diane Israel’s quest to understand both the personal and cultural forces that propelled her to seek physical perfection at any cost, will also be screened in the documentary section along with the film Finding Kraftland.

Some of the others films to be screened during the festival, which ends on 14 September include:

Narrative Feature Films: Yesterday Was a Lie

Feature Documentaries: RiverWebs, Heart & Soil, Six Seconds of Freedom, This American Gothic, Via Bearzi, Finding Kraftland, Beauty Mark, and The Listening Project

Student Films: The Light, Rabia, Coons, Presence, Respect: Start the Ripple, Korea Divided and Loon.

Short Films: Not For Today But For All Time, Teresa, This Bus Everyday, Ropies, Age Inappropriate, No One Island, Alicja Wonderland, Damaged, Ghosts of the West, Mint Flavored Death, MUGS, Sweetie, Merriman‘s Circle, Torture Porn, The Vault, Now You See Me Now You Don‘t, For the Masses, The Quickie, Ride of the Mergansers, The Hit, Circulation, ZAP Girl Makes Toast, One Two Punch, Case & Crowbar and The Job Evaluation.

NEW DELHI: Pyramid Saimira Group has launched Pyramid Saimira Summit Cineplex, a three screen multiplex, in Bukit Merthajam, Malaysia. The multiplex has a combined seating capacity of 703.

With the opening of Pyramid Saimira Summit Cineplex, Pyramid Saimira now own a total of 13 screens with a combined seating capacity of 4215 across its screens in Kuala Lampur, Butterworth, Bukit Merthajam, Melaka, Kluang, Johor Bahru and Seremban.

Pyramid Saimira Group chairman and managing director said, ” We forayed into Malaysia a little over a year ago with the objective of creating a vertically integrated theatre chain in Malaysia. We are very happy that Malaysia has evolved into a huge market for the entertainment industry. Through our screens in Malaysia, we hope to re-define the entertainment options that are available for the people here. Our screens will offer English, Malayalam, Chinese and Tamil content for the viewing masses here.”

Pyramid Saimira is a joint venture between Pyramid Saimira Theatre and Asian Integrated Industries, Malaysia, which was set up in April 2007.

BANGALORE: Inox Bangalore is all set to celebrate its third anniversary with a host of fun-filled activities, events and contests this month.

As a part of the celebrations, Inox will offer prizes ranging from Compaq Laptop, Hewlett Packard desktop, Yamaha Albo, Kuberan Silk Vouchers, Gajanand jewellery vouchers, Quick Heal antivirus software and other gifts worth up to 2.5 lakhs to be won.

Inox has also organised hot-seat promotions where lucky winners will be rewarded with goodies.

MUMBAI: MGM Motion Picture Group has roped in Luke Ryan Group as vice president, theatrical production. Ryan has moved in from MTV Films where he was serving as vice president for the last two years.

Ryan will be responsible in leading the studio’s newly assembled theatrical production operation and for overseeing the production and development of new MGM feature film projects.

In addition to bringing in new material, Ryan will immediately begin working on “priority projects” for the studio, including Cabin in the Woods, RoboCop, Red Dawn and Hot Tub Time Machine.

“MGM’s Cale Boyter first introduced me to Luke, and I was immediately impressed. He really understands great storytelling and with his combined production as well as development experience, he‘ll be able to jump right in and make an impact,” said MGM Worldwide Motion Picture Group chairman Mary Parent.

From 2000-2006, Ryan was an executive at New Line Cinema where he held various creative positions, hired initially as a story analyst, then promoted to creative executive and ultimately being elevated to director of development. Over his six years at New Line, Ryan worked on various projects including the Harold & Kumar franchise for the studio.

MUMBAI: Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited (PSTL), the movie exhibition and distribution arm of the Pyramid Saimira Group, has posted a net profit of Rs 134.9 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2008, up 30 per cent from the year ago period.

Revenue at Rs 2.5 billion was up 104 per cent from Rs 1.22 billion in the previous corresponding quarter.

Said Pyramid Saimira Group chairman and managing director PS Saminathan, “These results are for the exhibition business alone and do not include the performance of the other subsidiaries. Our distribution, production, post production and overseas subsidiaries contributed 30 per cent towards our total top-line last year and we‘re sure that these businesses will perform better this year with Pyramid Saimira planning to release some movies in the coming quarters. We have focused on optimisation and consolidation of all our resources, to the extent of relieving some unprofitable theatres and have added only 35 screens this quarter.”

PSTL currently manages around 5.09 lakh seats per show and during this quarter PSTL recorded around 60.3 million footfalls. The average capacity utilisation has been 33 per cent lower than expected, primarily due to the impact of IPL and the subsequent delay in the release of some films, says the company.

This has resulted in an EBIDTA of 11.27 per cent, which was expected to be around 18-20 per cent this year for PSTL alone. Also, basic EPS for the quarter ended 30 June 30 was Rs 4.77.

Highlighting on the projections for the fiscal 2008-09, Saminathan added, “We expect significant growth for the second quarter as we have acquired the worldwide distribution rights of Rajini Kanth starrer, Kuselan, which is expected to be India‘s highest grosser. The second and third quarters will witness more films, which will again help in the performance of the company in the coming quarters. We expect to perform as per expectations this year and grow at a steady 30 per cent, based on Q1 performance.”

PSTL owns approximately 7.75 million square feet under operational management and 875 screens globally.

NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker today has received the ‘Contribution to Entertainment with a purpose award’ at the concluding function of the Worldkids International Film Festival here.The award was given away by Michail Maniatis who represents ‘Kids for Kids Global’ organisation in the presence of Children’s Film Society, India chairperson Nafisa Ali.

Over thirty feature, short fiction and animation films for young children from India and overseas were screened at the Festival which had been inaugurated a week earlier by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

The festival has been organised by WorldKids, a brainchild of renowned filmmaker Manju Singh.

Gowariker said that he had attempted in all his films – like ‘Lagaan’, ‘Swades’ or ‘Jodha Akbar’ – to infuse a message.

Ali said the children’s film movement should take strength from private and public organizations to promote the concept of good cinema among children, as these can be vehicles of good culture and traditions among the young.

Maniatis said getting good films for children made by adults was not easy, and this was why his organisation was encouraging children to make films.

Singh said the WorldKids International Film Festival aims to introduce value based entertainment that promotes learning and inculcates a positive influence on young minds through cinema by showcasing some of the best national and international children’s films.

Some of the countries from where the films have come include Italy, the United States, India, Iran, the Philippines, Canada, Germany, Israel, Cuba-France, Latvia and Kenya.

MUMBAI: Eros Pictures has signed Bollywood writer Rumy Jafry to direct a film for the company. Produced by Eros Pictures, the script and cast are being finalised for the film currently.

Commenting on the development, Eros Pictures vice president Viki Rajani said, “Rumy has established himself as a writer par excellence, especially in the comic genre and we at Eros International are very happy to join hands with him as he now embarks on his directorial journey.”

Eros will also be releasing Jafry‘s directorial debut God Tussi Great Ho worldwide on 15 August. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra.

“We are excited about releasing God Tussi Great Ho, his debut as a director which promises to be a complete entertainer followed by his film with us,” Rajani added.

Jafry is the writer of around 45 Bollywood movies including films like Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Jodi No.1, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Bade Miya Chote Miya, Hero No.1, Coolie No.1, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Aflatoon, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Gharwali Baharwali, Anjaam and Rang.

MUMBAI: Adlabs Cinemas, part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, has commissioned research agency IMRB International to carry out an extensive research that will measure the Indian cinema audience by probing the audience on parameters including advertising exposure, cinema habits and exposure to media.

Commencing this month and to be conducted in three phases, the IMRB study will be focused on understanding the moviegoer in terms of movie viewing habits, behaviour and attitudes, and preferences towards movie viewing. It will also focus on cinema viewing metrics like reach and frequency, understanding the in-theatre experience and evaluate the efficacy of the advertising options (at Adlabs screens), and monitoring / auditing the various advertising properties in the Adlabs properties.

“The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of ticket sales and number of films produced annually. Further, the advent of multiplex chains, digital screening of movies and revamp of single screen cinemas has brought back the novelty of movie viewing in theatres. So far, cinema in India has very limited research to measure audience characteristics and preferences and hence, this is an initiative for us to gather insights into the thinking of the new age movie viewer and to understand the exposure, experience and ad efficacy of the theatre medium,” said Adlabs Cinemas COO Tushar Dhingra.

Dhingra believes that the primary reason for advertisers‘ renewed interest in the medium is the recent growth in audiences as well as loyalty of audiences to the cinema medium despite the availability of several other options. Cinemas are attractive destinations to reach out to a captive audience making them attractive advertising avenues. Cinema can also deliver a broad range of demographics.

“Multiplex cinema penetration, digital technology and the attractiveness of cinema audience demographics are driving high growth rates in the cinema advertising sector. Our research will provide an all encompassing perspective on the subject which will enable advertisers to make more informed decisions in the area of cinema advertising,” stated Dhingra.

“We are delighted to partner Adlabs Cinema in this research. This is the first of its kind comprehensive study to understand the cinemagoers holistically as individuals, consumers and media targets. Using technology like RFID, we would be also be mapping their exposure levels to various advertising options in the Adlabs cinemas,” added IMRB International senior vice president Hemant Mehta.

NEW DELHI: A total of 62 films from 28 countries are taking part in the competitive Second CHINH India Kids Film Festival and Forum to be held here from 3 to 9 August.

In a first of its kind attempt, two children juries – one of 23 members aged between four to six years, and the second of children between seven to 15 years of age – saw almost 100 entries in pre-school, early education, and animation films respectively to shortlist the films for the festival and decide on the awards. The children have been selected from 12 schools.

The Forum would celebrate the ‘Culture-Education-Development’ in context of children media. The winners of the CHINH Gold and CHINH Silver awards in all the three categories would be announced by the children on 4 August.

The screenings for shortlisting and deciding the awards were held in the Tagore International School in South Delhi over the past two days and the festival will be held in the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training Auditorium in West Delhi early next week.

The films are part of the CHINH Filmy Basta initiated by young filmmaker duo Meenakshi and Vinay Rai who have won 32 national and international awards and have founded the CHINH India Trust and the CHINH Web channel.

Meenakshi told Indiantelevision.com that the endeavour is meant to cultivate taste for good quality programming among children. Vinay said it was interesting that during the screenings and the discussions amongst themselves, the children were unperturbed by the presence of their teachers and spoke their minds freely and without fear.

MUMBAI: Big Music & Home Entertainment has signed a deal with Warner Home Video to become its exclusive home video licensee for India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

As a part of this strategic co-operation, Big Music & Home Entertainment will market and distribute VCDs, DVDs and Blu Ray products from Warner Home Video pan India, which includes both urban and mass markets.

The company will distribute and market titles from the studio’s catalogue which include classics like Gone with the Wind, Doctor Zhivago, Ben Hur, and modern-day blockbusters like The Matrix Trilogy, 300, along with the Harry Potter, Batman and Superman franchises.

Big Music & Home Entertainment chief executive officer Kulmeet Makkar says, “We understand the importance of localization and we have successfully taken Hollywood content to the common man by localizing the content in various regional languages”.

Makkar further adds, “As a leader in the fast growing localised content market, we have ambitious plans to ensure that Warner Home Video content is made accessible to as many people in as many languages as possible.”

Warner Home Video International vice president Gregory Economou adds, “We look forward to a successful association with Big Music & Home Entertainment, whose ambitions, abilities and resources make it a strong partner with whom to tap into the great potential that the Indian home video market represents. We are delighted to be working together to bring our world-class entertainment to an increasing number of Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi consumers.”

This comes close on the heels of Bing Music & Home Video signing a deal with Universal Pictures International in October 2007 as licensee to the studio.

The company has plans to release the Warner catalogue along with films such as I Am Legend, 10000 BC, as well as The Dark Knight and Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince (releasing in theatres in October).