ITV

Category: Movies

  • Babelgum launches first-ever Animatron Film Festival

    MUMBAI: Babelgum, a digital broadcast network, will launch the first ever tri-platform (online, mobile and offline) competition for animation and anime, named the Babelgum Animatron Film Festival.


    The competition will run parallel to the Hamptons International Film Festival and culminate in a special public screening programme, The Hamptons Animation Showcase this October. 


    “The Animatron Film Festival is an exciting new event for the animation community, and the popularity of animation and anime among both domestic and international audiences makes the Hamptons International Film Festival environment an ideal live venue for our cross-platform competition, which will be freely accessed, viewed, and voted on by anyone in the world,” said, Babelgum‘s Film Division SVP & General Manager Karol Martesko-Fenster in a press statement.


    Entries will be eligible for an Audience Awards, as well as cash prizes from a select jury of leaders in the animation, film and television world.


    Submission period has started from 2 August and will continue till 22 August. All submissions will be available for view at Babelgum‘s website.
     

  • Sen to represent India at Locarno filmfest

    NEW DELHI: Supran Sen, Secretary General of the Film Federation of India, has been invited as a special invitee to the Locarno Film Festival.


    Sen has been asked by Locarno Film Festival President Marco Solari to take part in a discussion on “Open Doors” dedicated to independent Indian Cinema. 


    The festival authorities are keen to take the initiative to start a fruitful collaboration with India in the perspective of 2011 edition.


    The Locarno Film Festival is a key festival along with Cannes, Berlin Carlovy Vary et al in the whole group of festivals in the world accredited to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).


    Sen is an office-bearer in the executive of FIAPF.

  • Gangster film nets Rs 220 million in first weekend

    MUMBAI: Films with good content always work. This has been proved by Prakash Jha‘s Raajneeti, Walkwater Media‘s Tere Bin Laden and now Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai, a Balaji Telefilms venture.


    The gangster film that depicts the crime scenario in Mumbai during the 70s and 80s has not only got good reviews but has also done good business. The film opened to about 75 to 80 per cent occupancy.


    Though Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai took a slow start, the terrific word-of-mouth resulted in an escalation in business from the first day itself and the film went from strength-to-strength on Saturday and Sunday.


    “The film has netted Rs 220 million in its first weekend,” says Balaji Group CEO Punit Kinra.


    The other release, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, got a decent opening with around 40 to 50 per cent occupancy.


    Said Fun Cinemas COO Vishal Kapur, “The Ekta Kapoor film opened well and the weekend saw an occupancy of between 80 to 85 per cent, though on Sunday there was a 100 per cent occupancy. The Twilight also did well business with occupancy of around 70 to 75 per cent.”


    After grossing Rs 230 million in its first weekend, Priyadarshan‘s Khatta Meetha, on the other hand, fell badly from Monday onwards. The Monday to Thursday total was approximately Rs 90 million. Its week one total stands at approximately Rs 320 million.


    “Though we have reduced the shows, the film was still doing well having weekend occupancy of about 70 per cent,” says Kapur.


    Walkwater Films‘ Tere Bin Laden has proved to be a profitable venture for its producers due to its low production cost and good-to-average theatrical returns. “In its limited shows, the film is doing decent business,” said Kapur.

  • Peepli Live is best first film at Durban Film fest

    MUMBAI: The 31st Durban film festival that was held from 22 July to 1 August has named Aamir Khan‘s film Peepli Live as the best first feature film.


    Written and directed by Anusha Rizvi, the film is a satire on the farmers‘ suicides and subsequent media and political response in India.


    Earlier, Peepli Live has been to festivals like the Sundance Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival. But it is at the Durban Film Festival that the film won an award.


    The jury that zeroed in on the awards included producers Aihara Hiromi of Japan and Christoph Thoke of Germany and South African academic, writer and producer Bhekizizwe Peterson.


    Peepli Live stars Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Naseeruddin Shah and Malaika Shenoy.

  • Durban Film Festival concludes

    MUMBAI: The 31st Durban International Film Festival concluded on 1 August. The festival that started from 22 July picked Iranian film The White Meadows as the best film.


    Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, the film was lauded by the International Jury as a timeless and poetic narrative. “The film conjures up a landscape that is visually stunning and intriguing because it is both harsh and beautiful. It is an enigmatic and poignant political allegory and takes the viewers through a journey on life‘s fundamental questions and beliefs,” the jury said. The Best Feature Film award carries a cash prize of R50,000.


    The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Oliver Schmitz‘s Life, Above All. Calling it a beautifully filmed and masterfully edited film with astounding performances, the jury highlighted the film‘s “universal resonance.” A cash prize of R25,000 was awarded to the film.


    Thirteen year old Khomotso Manyaka who played the role of Chanda in the film was named Best Actress by the International Jury. “It was a natural and touching performance that movingly portrays the resilience, determination and integrity of her character,” claimed the jury.


    The Best First Feature Film award went to Peepli Live directed by Anusha Rizvi. “Peepli Live is an ambitious and well-realised film that deals with serious political issues in a witty and entertaining manner. It creates an enchanting world of colourful characters, images and music that engrosses viewers throughout,” the jury noted.


    The International Jury comprised producers Aihara Hiromi (Japan) and Christoph Thoke (Germany) and South African academic, writer and producer Bhekizizwe Peterson.


    The jury awarded the Best Director award to Debra Granik for the US film Winter‘s Bone. “The director‘s vision shows a remarkable attention to the details that make up all the aspects of production, resulting in an intensely atmospheric and sensitive film,” the jury commented.


    The best documentary award went to a UK/Brazil co-production Waste Land directed by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley. The documentary was also voted ‘Audience Choice Best Film by the DIFF audiences and additionally it was also awarded the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award that is awarded to the documentary film that best reflects human rights issues. The award carries a cash prize of 2500 euros.

  • Lionsgate slams latest Icahn tender offer

    MUMBAI: The board of Lions Gate Entertainment has straightaway rejected the latest tender offer from Carl Icahn to acquire all of its outstanding stock for $6.50 per share saying that the offer does not reflect the full value of the movie and television studio.


    It also said that the timing was ‘opportunistic‘ because it comes at a time when a tough economic climate for media companies prevails. It also noted that the offer price was below Icahn‘s previous tender offer of $7 per share. 


    It may be noted that shares of Lionsgate closed Monday at $6.72 per share up 12 cents.


    Last week, in a hope of unwinding a recent transaction in which the company issued stock to board member Mark Rachesky in a debt-for-equity deal, Icahn filed a suit against Lionsgate in the Supreme Courts of New York and British Columbia.


    The action increased Rachesky‘s stake to just below 29 per cent from 20 per cent and diluted Icahn‘s holdings to 33.5 per cent from 38 per cent making it more difficult for him to take control of the company.


    Last Wednesday, the British Columbia Securities Commission denied Icahn‘s request for a 15-day cease trading order that would have prohibited Rachesky from selling any of the stocks he acquired in the transaction or from buying more shares. The order would have also prevented Lionsgate from issuing any new stock.

  • Big Cinemas to host ‘Spirit of my Tiranga’ festival in US

    MUMBAI: Big Cinemas, a division of Reliance MediaWorks and member of the Reliance ADAG, will celebrate the Spirit of Indian Independence Day by hosting the ‘Spirit of my Tiranga‘ festival across 11 theatres in USA from 7 to 15 August.


    The cinema chain has lined up memorable movies like Rang De Basanti, Lage Raho Munnabhai, 3 Idiots, Chak De India, Namaste London, Rock On, Sivaji, Dasavtharam and Indian that would be screened free.


    To further enhance the audience experience during the ‘Spirit of My Tiranga‘ festival, Big Cinemas would also be playing the National Anthem in auditoriums before the movie screenings and the lobby would be buzzing with saffron, white and green decorations and patriotic Indian songs and videos.


    Commenting on the festival, Reliance MediaWorks CEO Anil Arjun said, “The Indian Diaspora in USA has strong linkages with their origins and they like to celebrate occasions which bind them to their community. Big Cinemas‘ ‘Spirit of My Tiranga‘ festival is our attempt to organise a memorable event where the Indian community can come together to not just enjoy some of their all time favourite movies but also feel a part of the Indian Independence Day festivities.”


    Big Cinemas US has 190 screens present across 20 cities and has created a pan US footprint. The circuit accounts for 20-35 per cent of Hindi features‘ box office collections and over 70 per cent of Tamil and Telugu
    theatrical revenues from the US.
     

  • Chennai fest strengthens advisory panel

    MUMBAI: This year’s Chennai International Film Festival has strengthened its advisory panel consisting of film luminaries like Tamil Film Producers Council president Rama Narayanan, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Kushboo, Revathi and Rohini.


    The Indo-Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), which has been organising the festival for the last seven years, has joined hands with two powerful bodies – South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) and Film Federation of India (FFI) from this year.


    “The aim of the festival is to put Chennai on the global map of film festivals. The budget this year has been almost doubled when compared to that of last year, as we are planning to screen more films,” said ICAF secretary E Thangaraj.


    “Apart from the Woodlands multiplex, where we normally screen movies, SIFCC‘s theatre will be one more addition like last year. We are expecting support from the Tamil Nadu government and other bodies of Tamil cinema,” he added

  • Inception pushes Toy Story 3 to second spot overseas

    MUMBAI: Upon registering a boisterous opening in Germany, the UK, France and South Korea grossing $53.7 million on the weekend from some 7,500 screens in 51 markets, the Leonard Di Caprio starrer Inception climbed up to the No. 1 spot on the foreign theatrical circuit edging out Pixar/Disney’s Toy Story 3 to the second spot.


    Christopher Nolan‘s sci-fi thriller raked in an accumulated gross total overseas of $170 million. In Germany the film bagged $7.1 million from 715 locations at a per-screen average of about $10,000.


    In France, the film finished No. 1 in its second market round, grossing $4.8 million from 715 sites. The UK provided $5 million from 750 locations in the film‘s third frame for a market accomulation of $31.5 million. In South Korea the film roped in $5.1 million from 395 sites.


    Dipping nearly 40 per cent from its prior weekend‘s No. 1 gross figure, Toy Story 3 drew in $39.1 million from 8,213 screens from 48 markets and $826.1 million worldwide.


    The animation threequel finished No. 1 in its second UK making the film the third biggest-grossing animation title ever to play the territory. Toy 3 also continues to be at the top spotin Japan where in the fourth weekend the film grossed $7.1 million from 529 venues.


    Stretching out overseas with openings in at least nine markets was the weekend‘s No. 3 title, Sony‘s Angelina Jolie-starrer Salt which grossed an overall $24.5 million from 2,850 screens in 29 territories.


    Director Phillip Noyce‘s Cold War thriller took the No. 1 spot in six territories, including South Korea ($6.5 million from 531 sites), Russia ($5.5 million from 706 situations), the Philippines ($1.25 million from 80 screens) and Malaysia ($1.135 million from 110 spots). In Japan, the film opened with $3.9 million from 334 locations while in Brazil, the film came up with $2.3 million from 252 screens.

  • Italian screenwriter Cecchi D’Amico expires

    MUMBAI: Suso Cecchi D‘Amico, who emerged from the male-dominated post-war Italian cinema to become a celebrated artiste having contributed in films like Bicycle Thieves and The Leopard expired onSaturday at age 96. She died in her hometown, Rome while no cause of her death was given. She is survived by her three children.


    Cecchi D‘Amico worked with some of the most renowned Italian directors, including Franco Zeffirelli, Michelangelo Antonioni and Mario Monicelli, whose film Casanova 70 got her an Oscar nomination.


    She was equally successful at writing scripts for neo-realistic movies, art-house films and comedies like Big Deal on Madonna Street. Her work helped make the Italian post-war movie scene a vibrant and innovative one.


    Among other titles, she contributed to was The Leopard, the sumptuous depiction of the decline of a Sicilian aristocratic family based on the book by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa starring Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon.


    Said Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano that D‘Amico was a “great protagonist of one of the best seasons of Italian cinema.”


    Claudia Cardinale, who starred in The Leopard praised her deep culture and generosity. Cecchi D‘Amico won several Italian awards and in 1994 the Venice Film Festival gave her a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.