ITV

Tag: Cin

  • Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    NEW DLEHI: Japanese director Naomi Kawase, whose film Sweet Bean (An), had been the opening film of Un Certain Regard last year, is to preside over the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for its 69th edition of the Festival de Cannes. 

    A statement from the Festival said: “There are some directors whose careers are constantly intertwined with the Festival, much to its delight. The story with Naomi Kawase began back in 1997 when aged 27, she became the youngest winner of the Caméra d’or for her film Suzaku (Moe no Suzaku). The promise of this early discovery has since been reaffirmed time and again – as borne out by the selection in Competition of a whole series of her feature films: Shara (Sharasojyu) in 2003, The Mourning Forest (Mogari no Mori) in 2007, Hanezu (Hanezu no tsuki) in 2011 and Still the Water (Futatsume no mado) in 2014. In 2013, as a member of the Feature Film Jury, Naomi Kawase played a key role on the Croisette alongside Steven Spielberg”.

    In her films Naomi Kawase uses limited budgets and prefers non-professional actors – a sign of the director’s beginnings in the documentary genre, which first brought her to prominence after she graduated from the Photography School of Osaka. 

    When her appointment was announced, Naomi Kawase said: “Films enrich people’s lives, and their worlds inspire new possibilities. It is a little over 100 years since the advent of films, and their potential is ever expanding. They are exceptional media that can embody the diversity of world cultures, and their stories are like another life that enchants the audiences who see them. Short films are exceptionally difficult as they face the question of how much of a story can be experienced in their short duration, while they also contain myriad possibilities yet unseen. And among films created by students there will be the discovery of hidden brilliance like a gemstone, which makes me very much look forward to participating in this jury, a journey of adventure.”

    Renowned producer and director Gilles Jacob added: “From her Japanese roots, Naomi Kawase (Caméra d’or 1997) takes her extreme delicateness, refined manners and moral elegance. Her pointillist talent has helped generate a cinematic intelligence and a subtle art full of poetic mystery and graceful simplicity, conveyed through the great emotions of life and the tiny gestures of everyday existence. This year she will join a long line of great presidents of the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury, from Martin Scorsese and Abbas Kiarostami, to Jane Campion, Hou Hsiao Hsien, John Boorman and the Dardennes brothers.”

  • Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    NEW DLEHI: Japanese director Naomi Kawase, whose film Sweet Bean (An), had been the opening film of Un Certain Regard last year, is to preside over the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for its 69th edition of the Festival de Cannes. 

    A statement from the Festival said: “There are some directors whose careers are constantly intertwined with the Festival, much to its delight. The story with Naomi Kawase began back in 1997 when aged 27, she became the youngest winner of the Caméra d’or for her film Suzaku (Moe no Suzaku). The promise of this early discovery has since been reaffirmed time and again – as borne out by the selection in Competition of a whole series of her feature films: Shara (Sharasojyu) in 2003, The Mourning Forest (Mogari no Mori) in 2007, Hanezu (Hanezu no tsuki) in 2011 and Still the Water (Futatsume no mado) in 2014. In 2013, as a member of the Feature Film Jury, Naomi Kawase played a key role on the Croisette alongside Steven Spielberg”.

    In her films Naomi Kawase uses limited budgets and prefers non-professional actors – a sign of the director’s beginnings in the documentary genre, which first brought her to prominence after she graduated from the Photography School of Osaka. 

    When her appointment was announced, Naomi Kawase said: “Films enrich people’s lives, and their worlds inspire new possibilities. It is a little over 100 years since the advent of films, and their potential is ever expanding. They are exceptional media that can embody the diversity of world cultures, and their stories are like another life that enchants the audiences who see them. Short films are exceptionally difficult as they face the question of how much of a story can be experienced in their short duration, while they also contain myriad possibilities yet unseen. And among films created by students there will be the discovery of hidden brilliance like a gemstone, which makes me very much look forward to participating in this jury, a journey of adventure.”

    Renowned producer and director Gilles Jacob added: “From her Japanese roots, Naomi Kawase (Caméra d’or 1997) takes her extreme delicateness, refined manners and moral elegance. Her pointillist talent has helped generate a cinematic intelligence and a subtle art full of poetic mystery and graceful simplicity, conveyed through the great emotions of life and the tiny gestures of everyday existence. This year she will join a long line of great presidents of the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury, from Martin Scorsese and Abbas Kiarostami, to Jane Campion, Hou Hsiao Hsien, John Boorman and the Dardennes brothers.”

  • Cinepolis creates video to correlate the love between movies and popcorns

    Cinepolis creates video to correlate the love between movies and popcorns

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of National Popcorn Day on 19 January 2016, India’s first International cinema chain and the world’s fourth largest exhibitor, Cinépolis releases a heart-warming video celebrating the intrinsic link between movie-going and this universally loved snack. The video illustrates how watching a film in a theatre is absolutely incomplete without digging into a bag of delicious popcorn.

    Conceptualized by Cinépolis Global Team, the film light-heartedly turns the spotlight on several people who walk into the cinema resisting the urge to buy the snack. These very movie-goers end up indulging whole-heartedly in their companion’s bag of popcorn when they are immersed in their films. The video sums up this trend by saying, 60% people buy popcorn at Cinépolis. 100% eat!

    A tribute to the light, fluffy, flavoured favourite of cine-lovers, the video is backed by a study of popcorn consumption patterns in India which suggests that the money spent on this snack has almost doubled between 2012 and 2015 and currently stands at Rs 2,034 crore. The most loved flavours in the country are butter salted, caramel and cheese. The combination of a cold beverage and popcorn stands out as the most preferred snack inside cinema halls which comes as no surprise. After all, the identities of popcorn and movie watching are inherently tied together and Cinépolis has been fuelling this relationship with the superlative popcorn it serves at its cinema screens across the globe!

  • Cinépolis to host 6th Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai

    Cinépolis to host 6th Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Cinépolis India will be hosting the Mumbai chapter of the 6th Jagran Film Festival at its Fun Cinemas property in Andheri from 28 September – 4 October.

     

    Presenting films from across genres, countries, languages and eras, the festival brings forward diverse and extreme cinematic talent on one single platform. 

     

    Cinépolis business head – strategy Devang Sampat said, “The Jagran Film Festival has been entertaining and educating the masses by spreading a culture of cinema appreciation. Cinepolis this year participated in the festival in Lucknow, Patna, Ludhiana, Ranchi and going forward we shall be strategising to host more such festivals and ensure Cinepolis loyalist get to watch movies from all over the world. On the other hand, we as exhibitors also become a platform to bring together – filmmakers, distributors, audience through medium of Cinema and connect life, culture, art & emotions that surfaced during the film.”

     

    Both Indian and foreign language films will be screened at the festival in 13 categories. A special non-competitive section called ‘Happiness Spirit’ will see a cluster of 10-15 select films that will weave in ‘happiness of the human spirit’ as a common theme. 

    The competitive sections include Indian Showcase, Debut Directors, Jagran Shorts, Top Shorts, World Panorama and Cinema of the Sellers category.

    The best films in these categories will be decided upon by the jury comprising Hariharan, who leads the panel along with Pooja Bhatt, Mahesh Aney, Udit Narayan and A Sreekar. The awards will be conferred across numerous categories like Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Short Film, Best Debut Director and many more.

     

    “It gives us immense pride to host an event of this stature. An important aspect of the festival is to generate a discussion on the various aspects of cinema and its impact on society. This will be aided by the presence of the cast and crew of a select few films being screened to drive insightful discussions between the artistes & filmmakers and the audience,” Sampat added.

     

  • Cinépolis unveils 4th 3D Film Festival across India

    Cinépolis unveils 4th 3D Film Festival across India

    MUMBAI: Cinépolis has launched the fourth edition of 3D Film Festival, 3rd Dimension.

     

    Cinépolis has been hosting the film festival annually since 2012. The three-week long festival will run across all its movie theaters from 28 August to 17 September, 2015. 

     

    The film festival will exhibit 1,470 shows of recent 3D blockbusters. Cinépolis has collaborated with global visual technology company RealD Inc. to provide 3D technology for the film festival.

     

    The film festival will take place in Cinépolis theaters equipped with RealD 3D technology.

     

    Cinépolis has also collaborated with Northstar as media partner and Spiritual Yatra.com as associate partner for the festival.

     

    Cinépolis India head – strategic initiatives Devang Sampat said, “The second innings of 3D cinema has begun in India. The success of Avatar by James Cameron opened the floodgates of 3D films in Hollywood and Haunted by Vikram Bhatt managed to spark greater interest amongst the Indian filmmakers for this genre. With 3rd Dimension, we wish to usher in an era of an even more enhanced 3D experience in India and introduce the cinema lovers in the country to a more superior way to enjoy 3D films in the future.”

     

    “RealD is proud to support 3rd Dimension, a showcase of extraordinary movie-making as well as movie experiences. We look forward to this wondering event in bright, realistic and immersive RealD 3D,” added RealD VP and general manager Asia Pacific Edman Chan.

     

    The film festival will screen blockbusters such as Fast and Furious 7, The Hobbit, Big Hero 6, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gravity and Avengers: The Age of Ultron for its patrons to re-experience the rush with its superlative 3D features and help them recognise a genuine 3D experience.

  • Cinépolis crosses 200-screen landmark in India with Bengaluru multiplex launch

    Cinépolis crosses 200-screen landmark in India with Bengaluru multiplex launch

    MUMBAI: Mexican multiplex chain Cinépolis has crossed the 200-screen mark in India with the launch of its third property in Bengaluru.

     

    With an aim to have 400 operating screens across India by 2017, Cinépolis is looking at launching 20 more screens in Bengaluru over the next two years.

     

    The new cineplex in Bengaluru’s ETA Namma Mall boasts of complete digital projection and is equipped with three RealD 3D screens, digital sound and the largest legroom. Cinépolis has an exclusive tie-up for the deployment of the 3D technology from Real-D systems in India.

     

    Cinépolis India managing director Javier Sotomayor said, “We are committed to expanding in Bengaluru, one of the fastest growing metros of the country. Apart from the operational properties, we have more than 20 screens planned to go live in the city over the next two years. We are looking for newer malls to expand our footprint and offer the most awe-inspiring cinematic experience to movie-goers in Bengaluru.”

     

    “We identified ETA Namma Mall as the ideal location for our third property in the Garden City. The mall attracts the ideal blend of cosmopolitan customers who look forward to a more-than-average movie-watching experience, which we are in a perfect position to offer. Cinépolis is the fastest growing cinema brand in the country and will continue to foray into existing and newer territories to meet our plan of operating 400 screens in India by 2017,” he added.

     

    With the acquisition of Fun Cinemas from Essel Group, Cinépolis’ screen count in India rose to 193, across 41 multiplexes and 31 cities. After the launch in Bengaluru’s ETA Namma Mall the total number of screens has hit 201.

     

    Cinépolis India business head – strategy Devang Sampat said, “At Cinépolis, our constant endeavour is to deliver unmatched levels of customer service. The technology and experience that patrons will enjoy at the newly-unveiled cineplex will be in perfect synchrony with our brand proposition. We look forward to the continued patronage of Bengaluru residents for this theatre and for the many more than are underway in this highly lucrative geography.”

     

    The multiplex operator currently has a presence in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Surat, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna, Thane, Vijaywada, Vadodara, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Ambala, Panipat, Ghaziabad, Mangalore, Hubli, Kota, Gwalior, Coimbatore, Khanna, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Ghaziabad and Ranchi. 

  • Yash Raj Films partners Rentrak for worldwide box office collections

    Yash Raj Films partners Rentrak for worldwide box office collections

    MUMBAI: Yash Raj Films (YRF) has entered into an agreement with Rentrak, which offers real-time box office results.

     

    YRF has appointed Rentrak for e-grosses (real time collection of box office collections) from theatres worldwide. This association takes ahead the already relationship between the two companies, who have worked in the overseas market since 1998.

     

    Rentrak’s reporting includes data from clients in the USA, UK, UAE and GCC, China, Australia and New Zealand.

     

    This also paves the way for bringing the much needed transparency to the box office reporting system in the country. Earlier this year, Rentrak had also inked box office measurement deals with India multiplex chains Carnival Cinemas and Cinepolis.

  • Rentrak partners India’s Cinepolis for box office analysis

    Rentrak partners India’s Cinepolis for box office analysis

    MUMBAI: The movie measuring consumer viewership information provider Rentrak has joined hands with Indian multiplex operator Cinepolis. With this tie-up, Rentrak will launch its box office service to report daily theater-level information for Cinepolis, the third largest multiplex operator in India, in terms of box office revenues.

     

    With the recent acquisition of Mumbai-based Fun Cinemas, Cinepolis has now nearly 200 screens in India in 31 cites. The addition of Cinepolis, gives Rentrak a huge boost in its efforts in India, where Rentrak has just launched its services to track movie box office revenues with the Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film PK starring Aamir Khan.

     

    “India is one of the fastest-growing theatrical markets and our measurement is vital to helping serve their clients, we look forward to our partnership with Cinepolis and expanding as they continue to add more screens,” said Rentrak worldwide movie measurement business president Ron Giambra. 

     

    Cinepolis India managing director Javier Sotomayor added, “India is a very exciting market with tremendous passion for cinema. When this passion can be measured accurately in real time and understood in terms of box-office analytics, it will pave way for greater growth in the industry and better movie products for the country as a whole.”

     

    Rentrak’s Box Office Essentials and International Box Office Essentials are the movie industry’s source for comprehensive global box office intelligence and are used as the currency by every studio in the United States as well as distribution entities around the world. Boasting a global footprint of the worldwide movie market, Rentrak is able to provide its clients with real-time box office intelligence, through one unique system, which allows users to view real-time online reports from anywhere around the world.

     

  • Cinépolis launches technologically advanced theatre in Thane, Mumbai

    Cinépolis launches technologically advanced theatre in Thane, Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Cinépolis, the world’s fourth largest and India’s first international exhibitor launched the second biggest megaplex in India with 14 screens at Viviana Mall, Thane, Mumbai on 20 November.

     

    With this multiplex, Cinépolis will be operating 110 screens across India, making it the fastest brand to cross the 100-screen landmark organically.

     
    The megaplex is one of the most technologically-advanced cinemas with six concepts under one roof viz. Cinépolis VIP, IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Atmos, RealD 3D and 4K projection system. With this theatre, Cinépolis is introducing 4DX to India which provides a fully immersive movie experience with a real simulation of effects like motion seats, water, wind, fog, lightening and scents that enhance what one views on the screen.

     

    The other revolutionary concepts that the theatre encompasses include the Cinépolis VIP that reinvents entertainment with full leather recliners, in-theatre restaurant apart from the existing service on-seat. It is also the first Cinépolis property to have a fully-equipped IMAX screen. In addition, another auditorium in the complex is equipped with Dolby Atmos, which employs up to 64 speakers to heighten the realism of every scene. Patrons can also enjoy freshly-prepared gourmet food at the in-house coffee shop, Coffee Tree, in the lobby of Cinépolis.

     
    Additionally, the state of the art 3-D technology from Real-D systems is the world’s most widely deployed 3-D technology and offers viewers the most enthralling 3-D movie watching experience and has an exclusive tie-up with Cinépolis in India.

     

    Movie goers can also enjoy benefits of Club Cinépolis, the company’s loyalty programme at the theatre in Viviana Mall.

     

    Cinépolis India MD Javier Sotomayor said, “Cinépolis is committed to offering the best cinema experience to movie goers in India. With this goal in mind, we have introduced unparalleled concepts in the country such as IMAX, 4DX, exclusive Real-D 3D, Dolby Atmos sound to name a few. Thanks to these features, the Cinépolis brand has quickly marked its niche in the country and has been able to garner widespread loyalty.”

     

    “Cinépolis pioneered the concept of luxury cinemas and the largest operator of luxury cinemas worldwide. We are glad to bring the same to India. This is our second Cinepolis VIP property in India, which will provide a superior movie viewing experience to the discerning audience.

     

    Megaplexes such as these enable us to bring all these different concepts under one roof. We can also provide flexibility to our patrons to watch their favourite shows at their preffered timings. We thank Mr. Sunil Shroff and his team for the opportunity to be able to gift to the people of Thane this great megaplex at Viviana Mall, Thane. On the back of this success, we aim to reach the 400-screen landmark by 2017,” he added.

     
     
    Speaking about the growth plans, Cinépolis India director-expansion Ashish Shukla said, “Thought leadership, product leadership and megaplexes is Cinépolis’s commitment to India. The Viviana Megaplex, Mumbai’s largest, is a must visit for all Thanekars and Mumbaikars.

     

    With this 110th screen launching within five years of our operations, Cinépolis continues to be the fastest organically growing company in India, on an average two screens per month. We will continue to bring the best which the world has to offer to India first. 4DX as an experiential cinema will change the way movie goers watch movies in India. We look forward to building Megaplexes like the Viviana Mall across the country in partnerships with leading developers. Visit soon, and enjoy the amazing experience.”

     
    Cinépolis India business head–strategy Devang Sampat shared, “At Cinépolis, our constant endeavour is to deliver unmatched levels of customer service. With the introduction of 4DX in India, we have set a new, unprecedented benchmark in the realm of movie watching experience in the country.

     

    Patrons can also enjoy gourmet food offerings at Coffee Tree and benefit from the Cinépolis club membership, where movie goers can register for free and start accumulating reward points for every purchase made at the Cinépolis Box Office. These points can be later redeemed for free tickets. Club Cinépolis members have the lifetime opportunity to meet and greet their favourite bollywood and Hollywood stars.

     

    We would focus on programming as wide variety of content as “possible to suit the demands from all the different segments. We intend to showcase niche content which haven’t been able to come to the silver screen earlier. ”

    Viviana Mall head Sunil Shroff said, “It gives us immense pleasure to announce the opening of Cinepolis at Viviana. In a short span of a year, Viviana has reset benchmarks with its vibrant retail offerings and unique consumer experientials.  With the launch of Cinepolis, we have sealed our position among the country’s premium destinations for entertainment, shopping, dining and other recreational activities.”   

    Apart from Thane, Cinépolis currently operates at Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Patna, Surat, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hubli, Hyderabad, Thane, Mangalore and Vijaywada. Starting in 2009, Cinépolis has become one of the fastest in India to reach the landmark of over 100 screens with a total of 21,500 seats.

     

  • India’s Qissa to compete at Vesoul Filmfest in France

    India’s Qissa to compete at Vesoul Filmfest in France

    NEW DELHI: The Indian film Qissa by Anup Singh, which has already won accolades on the international festival circuit, will one of the nine Asian films in competition at the 20th Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie.

     

    The Cinemas d’Asie which is a specific festival for developing film industries in Asia will be held from 11 to 18 February in Vesoul in France next month.

     

    There are two films from Japan, both receiving their European premiere, and one each from China, India, Iran, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey in the Festival. Five of these nine films were also screened at last year’s Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.

     

    Qissa was also the opening film of the 43rd International Film Festival at Rotterdam from 22 January to 2 February and this marked the European premiere of the film. It won the Audience Award at that Festival. 

     

    The award comprising Euro 10,000 (INR 9 Lakh Approx) is given to the most voted film supported by the Hubert Bals Fund.

    Qissa which received the Hubert Bals Fund for Script & Project Development in 2004, was made with further support from the Netherlands Film Fund, and was co-produced by Dutch company Augustus Film.

     

    Set in post-colonial India, the film stars Irrfan Khan as a Sikh who has fled his village to escape ethnic cleansing at the time of partition who tries to start a new life for his family.

     

    The choice of opening slot for the drama is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the festival’s Hubert Bals Fund, which had supported the Indian film’s script development ten years ago.

     

    The festival will also host a retrospective, Mysterious Objects: 25 Years of Hubert Bals Fund, including a screening of the fund’s first recipient, Chen Kaige’s Life on a String (1991).

     

    Qissa is represented internationally by Germany’s The Match Factory GmbH. The film had its North American and Asian premieres at the Toronto International Film Festivaland Busan International Film Festival respectively.

     

    Earlier, the film added one more feather in its cap when actor Tillotama Shome won the Best Actress award in the New Horizons competition at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

    In Qissa, Shome plays the youngest daughter of Umber Singh (Irrfan Khan) who decides to raise her as a boy.

     

    Shome made her screen debut with Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding in 2001 and went on to play roles in Florian Gallenberger’s Shadows of Time and Dibakar Banerjee’s Shanghai.

     

    Qissa earlier won the Silver Gateway Award in India Gold competition at the 15thMumbai Film Festival  and the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award for Best Asian Film at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival where it had its premiere.

     

    Set amidst the ethnic cleansing and general chaos that accompanied India’s partition in 1947, this sweeping drama stars Irrfan Khan as a Sikh attempting to forge a new life for his family while keeping their true identities a secret from their community.

     

    Beautiful, timeless, and touching the deepest of human impulses, Qissa carries the spirit of a great folk tale. Although it’s set in a particular time and place — the Punjab region that straddles India and Pakistan in the years immediately after partition — it is both deeper and broader than any one moment. As this eerie family drama progresses, it cuts to the heart of eternal desires for honour, empathy, and love.

     

    “Qissa” is originally an Arabic word meaning folk tale. Both the word and the idea migrated from the Gulf into the Punjab, still connected by the ancient oral narratives handed down in communal settings. Working within this tradition, director Anup Singh gives his film both the grand themes and elemental emotions of classic storytelling. As Umber’s daughter is raised as a boy, the characters are propelled with greater and greater urgency towards their inevitable fates.