Category: Movies

Christina Thomas to step down as BAFTA New York CEO

MUMBAI: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in New York announced that Christina Thomas will step down as chief executive on 1 July 2015.

Thomas will remain with the organisation in the newly created position of development consultant, where she will be responsible for expanding the non-profit’s funding resources by overseeing and implementing new approaches to fundraising that will increase revenues to support the strategic direction of the organisation.

Thomas – a founding member of the New York branch of BAFTA – was appointed the organisation’s first chairman in 1996 and remained in that position until 2006. In 2007 she was appointed to her current role of CEO. Under her leadership membership has grown to over 800 members. During her tenure she established, along with the support of the Board and various committee chairs, new programming strands such as the acclaimed ‘In Conversation’, ‘In Production,’ ‘Brits Who Cracked America’ and ‘The BAFTA New York Media Studies Scholarship Program’. As part of BAFTA’s global activity, Thomas was also responsible for overseeing annual events including the New York-based Film Awards Celebrations, the Television Awards Situation Comedy Nominees Party, NYTVF/BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forums and BAFTA Brits to Watch events.

Thomas said, “I have enjoyed serving as chief executive and I am particularly gratified to have played a role in raising awareness of BAFTA New York and contributing to the shared goals of BAFTA worldwide. I feel that now is the right time to hand over the reins to a new generation to continue to build the organization in New York. Development is an area that I have always enjoyed and now I will be able to devote all my time to this endeavour while supporting the organization’s mission and helping it grow even more.”

BAFTA New York chairman Charles Tremayne added, “Christina has been at the heart of BAFTA New York since it started. With her guidance the organization has grown from a small body of passionate individuals to one which helps position BAFTA as a leading advocate for the best in film and television in the US. This year we are on target to break our record and present over 80 screenings for our members, as well as numerous other professional events, while awarding more scholarships than ever before and attracting the highest membership in our history.”

Prior to BAFTA New York, Thomas was president of the US subsidiary of Primetime Entertainment, Inc. She was also SVP at Producers Group International, where she was responsible for program development, and global co-production and sales activities. Thomas is the founder and CEO of Jigsaw Communications a global finance and independent film distribution consulting agency.

January 21, 2015
Coen brothers named presidents of Cannes Film Festival jury

MUMBAI: American filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen will be presiding over the jury of the 68th Festival de Cannes.

This will be the first time in the history of the Festival de Cannes, when not one but two leading figures will chair the Jury.

“We look forward to returning to Cannes this year. We welcome as always the opportunity to watch movies there from all over the world. Cannes is a festival that has been important to us since the very beginning of our career. Presiding over the Jury is a special honour, since we have never heretofore been president of anything. We will issue further proclamations at the appropriate time,” said Joel and Ethan Coen.

The brothers are currently filming the George Clooney, Christophe Lambert, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin and Channing Tatum starrer film Hail Caesar!

2015 is the celebration of 120 years since the invention of the Lumi?re cinematograph, and the Festival de Cannes will recognise, through the Coens, the work of all “cinema brothers” who, since Louis and Auguste Lumi?re, have enriched its history. The Festival has also had the opportunity to welcome “brothers” in a great way: like Joel and Ethan Coen who won the Palme d’or in 1991, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani received it in 1976, as well as Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne in 1998 and in 2005.

The Festival de Cannes will take place from 13-24 May, 2015. The composition of the Official Selection and the members of the Jury will be unveiled in mid-April.

January 20, 2015
Amazon to produce original movies for theaters and Prime Instant Video

MUMBAI: Amazon Studios, known for television series such as Transparent, Tumble Leaf and Mozart in the Jungle, will begin to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release and early window distribution on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Whereas it typically takes 39 to 52 weeks for theatrical movies to premiere on subscription video services, Amazon original movies will premiere on Prime Instant Video in the US just four to eight weeks after their theatrical debut. It will focus on unique stories, voices, and characters from top and up-and-coming creators.

Amazon Studios vice president Roy Price said, “We look forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films. Our goal is to create close to 12 movies a year with production starting later this year. Not only will we bring customers exciting, unique, and exclusive films soon after a movie’s theatrical run, but we hope this program will also benefit filmmakers, who too often struggle to mount fresh and daring stories that deserve an audience.”

Amazon Original Movies creative development will be led by independent film visionary Ted Hope. Hope co-founded and ran production company Good Machine, which produced Academy Award-nominated films such as Eat Drink Man Woman and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

“Audiences already recognize that Amazon has raised the bar with productions in the episodic realm, tackling bold material in unique ways and collaborating with top talent, both established and emerging. To help carry the torch into the feature film world for such an innovative company is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility,” said Hope.

January 20, 2015
‘Main Gabbar’ to hit theatres on 1 May, 2015

MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures (VMP) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB) will be releasing their multi-starrer action thriller, Main Gabbar this summer. The film is slated for release on 1 May, 2015 and stars Akshay Kumar in the lead.

Shruti Hassan, Sunil Grover and Suman Talwar essay pivotal roles in this movie along with a special guest appearance by Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said, “Main Gabbar has the makings of a potential blockbuster film that is the perfect amalgamation of an ensemble cast and an engaging narrative. Hoping to leverage the May Day holiday for an extended opening, we have slated the film for release on 1 May.”

Bhansali added, “Main Gabbar is a film I truly find entertaining both as a film-maker and as an audience, Bhansali Productions is happy to associate with Viacom18 Motion Pictures on Main Gabbar. I am also excited to partner with my friend Shabinaa Khan after Rowdy Rathore.”

An action thriller, the film showcases a villain who is really a hero… cornered. With larger than life action sequences and a gripping storyline, the film will witness Akshay Kumar in a never seen before avatar.

January 20, 2015
‘Alone’ tots Rs 11.4 crore at BO

MUMBAI: Bipasha Basu’s sex appeal and skin show does not quite work at the box office as the content and treatment of Alone don’t back her up. A routine horror film with forced scary moments, which fail to scare, the film opens with tepid response.

Not a film for single screens, its magic has limited appeal even at the multiplexes, where it was aimed. Alone has managed to put together collections of Rs 11.4 crore in its opening weekend with Saturday and Sunday showing a symbolic growth over its opening day.

Sharafat Gayee Tel Lene took home a few lakhs with poor performance at the box office. Crazy Cukkad Family followed suit at the box office, its investment being total waste of resources.

I (dubbed but promoted as the Hindi version) gets better response than all other films of the week though the collections remain at below average levels as South actors and films don’t find ready takers in the Hindi market. The film has collected about Rs 6.5 crore over the weekend including paid previews on Thursday.

Tevar, with its adverse reports and weak opening, ends the first week with uninspiring figures. The film collects Rs 33.15 crore. Not much is expected in its second week.

Coming at the end of its run at the box office, Ugly adds Rs 60 lakh to its second week to take its three week tally to Rs 8.4 crore.

On the other hand, the Aamir Khan starrer PK, which is directed by Rajkumar Hirani, remains rock steady in its fourth week. The film collects Rs 12.5 crore and takes its four week tally to Rs 324.2 crore.

January 19, 2015
Riteish Deshmukh to star in ‘Masti 3’

MUMBAI: The actor, who had earlier claimed that he won’t be doing any sex comedies, suddenly seems to have had a change of heart. We’re talking about Riteish Deshmukh, who has been a part of all the series of the film Masti.

Word is that Deshmukh will be seen playing one of the leads in Masti 3.

While the first instalment of this series was a sleeper hit, Grand Masti became the first sex comedy to enter the Rs 100 crore club in Bollywood.

After the successful series, its makers have been toying with the idea of a third instalment, and the actor has found the script interesting and impactful.

Excited about the latest turn of events, director Indra Kumar stated in a report that Deshmukh was really convinced about the film when he heard the script and also expressed his happiness over collaborating with him once again.

January 19, 2015
East Europe dominates Palm Springs Awards

NEW Delhi: ‘Selma’ received the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature while ‘Keep On Keepin’ On’ received the Audience Award for Best Documentary feature, both sponsored by Mercedes Benz, at the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival.

‘Leviathan’ received the FIPRESCI Prize given by the International federation of film critics while Haluk Bilginer and Anne Dorval received the FIPRESCI Acting Prizes.

‘No One’s Child’ was awarded New Voices/New Visions Award; ‘Flowers’ got the Cine Latino Award; ‘Walking Under Water’ won the John Schlesinger Award and ‘Corn Island’ got the HP Bridging The Borders Award.

The Festival held earlier screened 196 films from 65 countries, including 51 of the 83 foreign language entries for this year’s Academy Awards.

Festival director Darryl Macdonald said, “Eastern European filmmakers – both emerging and established – have utterly dominated our juried awards this year: first time feature director Vuk Rsumovic from Serbia takes the New Visions New Voices prize for No One’s Child, the Bridging the Borders award goes to Georgian director George Ovashvili’s Corn Island plus a special jury prize to Kosovo’s Three Windows and a Hanging directed by Isa Qosja, and the Schlesinger award goes to Polish director Eliza Kubarska for her debut documentary Walking Under Water. The power of stories from this region is palpable and infectious.”

The runner-up documentary film was ‘The Salt of the Earth’ (France). Popular documentary selections in alphabetical order included: ‘Back on Board: Greg Louganis’ (USA), ‘Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey’ (USA), ‘How I Got Over’ (USA), ‘Limited Partnership’ (USA), ‘The Breach’ (USA).

The winner and runner-ups were picked on the basis of over 70,000 ballots cast by audience members during the Festival. Both winners received the John Kennedy Statue (“The Entertainer”) specially designed for the Festival.

The 2015 FIPRESCI jury members were Ella Taylor (film critic), Michael Oleszczyk (film critic and scholar) and Ernesto Diezmartínez Guzman (columnist and author).

January 19, 2015
CBFC mass exodus: 13 members follow Samson; say action not related to ‘MSG’

NEW DELHI: Even as the government accepted Leela Samson’s resignation as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) following the controversy over the film ‘Messenger of God’ (MSG), made by and starring Dera Saccha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, 13 other members have put in their papers.

The film has already been cleared by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).

In a letter, the members – M K Raina, Arundhati Nag, Ira Bhaskar, Lora Prabhu, Pankaj Sharma, Rajeev Masand, Anjum Rajabali, Nikhil Alva, Mamang Dai, Sekharbabu Kancherla, Shaji N Karun, Shubhra Gupta and TG Thyagarajan – have said that since the time that they first joined the Board, they had been seeking critical changes, which were imperative if the functioning of the CBFC has to be reformed.

The term of most of these members and Samson had ended in May, but they had been given extensions to continue. While some members said they had tendered their resignations around six months earlier, they were unanimous while talking to Indiantelevision.com that the resignations had no connection with the film ‘Messenger of God’.

The members’ letter said, “In spite of sending numerous recommendations and appeals, and having several meetings with the secretaries and senior officials of the ministry, and even one with an earlier Minister, not a single positive step has been taken by the Ministry.”

The CBFC members claimed that the “Advisory Panel continues to be filled up with people of questionable credentials appointed directly by the Ministry, without taking the Board’s recommendations into account.” No funds have been released for conducting orientation workshops for the panel members, they said, adding that officers from other departments, who have no understanding or experience in cinema are appointed as officials.

They also claimed that there are several positions in the regional offices that do not have regular appointments.

“There has been no board meeting for the last one year for us to discuss developments and make recommendations, as we were told that there are no funds to organize it. It seems that the CBFC Board is not required at all,” the letter said.

“It is our firm position that given the cavalier and dismissive manner in which the CBFC is treated by government, it is impossible to perform this duty with even a modicum of efficacy or autonomy. We also object to the way in which the Chairperson has been treated by the Ministry, which we feel has been humiliating for us all,” the letter said.

Asked about the clearance by FCAT, Samson said, “Yes, it is a mockery of CBFC. My resignation is final. I have informed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Bimal Julka.”

While she did not specifically refer to the reported clearance to the film, Samson alleged “interference, coercion and corruption of panel members and officers of the organisation who are appointed by the ministry.”

Refuting these allegations, the government had yesterday said that it has always maintained a distance from the entire process of film certification.

January 17, 2015
Tom Hardy drops out of ‘Suicide Squad’

MUMBAI: Directed by David Ayer, the all-star comic book movie, Suicide Squad, produced by Warner Bros. was slated to star Tom Hardy reprising the role of Rick Flagg, the leader of the group that consists of Batman villains- Deadshot, Joker, Harley Quinn, Boomerang and Enchantress.

According to sources Hardy unfortunately had to make an exit due to date problems. The actor is currently shooting for The Revenant, co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and that shoot is now looking to last longer than initially planned.

Upon hearing this, Warner Bros. has decided to cast Jake Gyllenhaal in replacement of Hardy. Gyllenhaal, who has gained popularity for his performance in the Nightcrawler, has previously worked with Ayer on the acclaimed police thriller, End of Watch. It is however unclear whether or not the actor will take it on.

Based on DC Entertainment’s, the cast of Suicide Squad includes Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne. The film is due to begin shooting mid-April in Toronto and is scheduled to release on 05 August 2016.

January 17, 2015
Essel Vision’s ‘Jazbaa’ starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to go on floors on 20 Jan

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s (ZEEL) creative and production studio Essel Vision Productions is gearing up for its much anticipated film – Jazbaa. The movie, which is touted as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback film, is slated to go on floors on 20 January.

Essel Vision Productions will be producing the movie in association with Sanjay Gupta’s White Feather Films and Sachiin Joshi’s Viiking Entertainment. The movie also stars Shabana Azmi, Irrfan Khan, Anupam Kher, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Atul Kulkarni, Siddharth Kapoor, Baby Sara Arjun and Priya Banerjee. It will be directed by Gupta.

Speaking on its foray, Essel Vision CEO Nittin Keni said, “Jazbaa is an amazing story intertwined with superlative action, drama and mystery. It is the kind of entertaining and meaningful cinema that we want our audience to associate us with. Supported with keen creative & business acumen we are confident that we deliver compelling, profitable entertaining content to global audiences.”

Jazbaa is a crime thriller and filled with unpredictable twists in the plot hence it was imperative for the actors to be completely in sync with their characters. With the film all set to go on the floors on 20 January, the makers organised a script reading session, which gave an opportunity for the cast and crew to come together to understand and prepare their roles thoroughly.

The script reading session was helmed by Gupta along with scriptwriters Kamlesh Pandey and Robin Bhatt. It opened interesting conversations among the actors about the concept in India for a Bollywood film. This was later followed by a detailed dialogue with the creative team including sound designer Resul Pookutty and cinematographer Sameer Arya.

Commenting on the narration, Gupta said, “The script reading session of Jazbaa with the entire cast and crew went off very well. Internationally, it’s the norm and I think it helps the cast bond with each other before the shooting starts. It’s a better arrangement than having the actors meet each other only when they reach the sets when the shoot begins. Writers sometimes tend to miss out certain elements when they are so close to the script. The inputs I received from the actors were fresh as they have interesting perspectives when they hear the story at one go like this and will only help us make a better film. It was also an ice breaker for the talent on the film since most of my cast are working with each other for the first time.”

Keeping the lead actress’ parenting duties in mind, Gupta, who is also father to a young child, plans to shoot the film only on weekdays.

Shabana and Aishwarya hit if off instantly as they waited for Irrfan to join them. It was not surprising to see Aishwarya go up to and welcome the young child actor, Sara, on board the film by hugging her. Even as Sara smiled and told her that was her huge fan, the actress responded by saying, “Don’t be my fan, you’re my daughter!”

January 17, 2015