Reuters: Dutch PM warns of attacks due to anti-Islam film

The Netherlands risks economic sanctions and attacks on its citizens and businesses because of a plan by a right-wing politician to broadcast an anti-Islamic film, the Dutch Prime Minister warned on Friday. Gilbert Kreijger reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

Variety: Hollywood puts focus on China

The world is obsessed with China. And so is Hollywood. Three studios are planning to release large-scale English-language movies filmed in China... Anne Thompson reports. 
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iW NEWS | Lee and Schamus to Receive ShoWest Kudos

Director/producer Ang Lee and screenwriter/producer and Focus Features CEO James Schamus will be presented with the very first ShoWest/NATO Freedom of Expression award, organizers announced Friday. Lee and Schamus will be presented with their award at the opening day luncheon to be held on Tuesday, March 11th at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas. The focus of this year's luncheon is going to be on the "importance of Specialty and Independent films and distribution companies in today’s marketplace." The event takes place March 10 -13. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | SFIFF To Honor Leigh

The San Francisco Film Society announced that director Mike Leigh will be presented with the inaugural Founder's Directing Award at the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival. Leigh will be presented with the award at the Film Society Awards Night on May 1, 2008 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The award is presented each year to one of the "masters of world cinema" and is given in memory of Irving M. Levin, who founded the festival in 1957. Previously, the festival gave a similar honor with its Kurosawa Directing Award, whose recipients have included Spike Lee, Werner Herzog, Milos Forman and Akira Kurosawa. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | Portland Fest Announces Audience Awards

The 31st Portland International Film Festival has announced the Oregon Live Audience Award winners. They include Jan Sverak's "Empties" as best feature, with Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" and Stefan Ruzowitzky's "The Counterfeiters" as runners-up. Eran Kolirin won best new director for "The Band's Visit," while Alex Gibney's "Taxi to the Darkside" won best documentary feature. Belgian filmmaker Guido Thysn won the short film award for Oscar nominee "Tanghi Argentini." This year's Festival wrapped up its 18 day run Sunday, February 24th after 186 total screenings in downtown Portland, Oregon. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Time Warner Folds New Line with Warner Bros.

The rumored cosolidation of New Line Cinema with Warner Bros. Entertainment was confirmed today in a statement announced by Time Warner Thursday. As part of the move, New Line will be operated as a unit of Warner Bros., but will "maintain separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs operations." The unit, however, will "closely integrate and coordinate those functions with Warner Bros. to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies, achieve significant cost savings, and improve margins," according to the entertainment giant. As part of the new arrangement, New Line's co-chairmen and co-CEOs Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne have elected to leave the studio, but are "in discussions about possible future business relationships with the company." ""We are moving quickly to improve our business performance and financial returns. New Line has built a strong franchise of cutting-edge entertainment," commented Time Warner's president and CEO Jeff Bewkes in a statment. "We can enhance its value by combining it with Warner Bros. Given the trend toward fewer movie releases, New Line and Warner Bros. will now have more complementary release slates, with New Line focusing on genres that have been its strength. With the growing importance of international revenues, it makes sense for New Line to retain its international film rights and to exploit them through Warner Bros.' global distribution infrastructure." [Brian Brooks] 
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iW NEWS | "The Deal" and Battle in Seattle" Bookend 10th Sarasota Film Festival

Steven Schachter's Sundance '08 film, "The Deal" starring Meg Ryan, William H. Macy, Jason Ritter and LL Cool J will open the 10th Sarasota Film Festival, taking place April 4 - 13 in the tony Florida Gulf coast town. "Blind Date," starring Stanley Tucci will screen as this year's Centerpiece. Tucci will be honored at the fest's 10th anniversary ball where he will be introduced by Steve Buscemi. Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle" will close the event. Both Townsend and star Charlize Theron will attend. Seven films will screen in the narrative competition including: Cristian Nemescu's "California Dreamin'," Fatih Akin's "Edge of Heaven," Petter Naess' "Gone with the Woman," Sergei Bodrov's "Mongol," Lee Issac Chung's "Munyurangabo," Claude Lelouch's "Roman de Gare," and Helen Hunt's "Then She Found Me." Films in the doc competition are: Nanette Burstein's "American Teen," "At the Death House Door" by Peter Gilbert and Steve James, "Flow: For the Love of Water" by Irena Salina, "Great Speeches from a Dying World" by Linas Phillips, "Song Sung Blue" by Greg Kohs," "Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane that Crashed on The Mountains" by Gonzalo Arijon, "To See If I'm Smiling" by Tamar Yarom and "We Are Wizards" by Josh Koury. For more highlights, visit the SFF website. [Brian Brooks] 
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AFP: Oscar hat-trick good news for disgruntled French film

France's triple Oscar win, including a Hollywood top nod for Best Actress, comes as a blessing for a film industry increasingly in fear of losing life-saving state support. Claire Rosemberg reports. 
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LAT: Inside George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch

The uninvited have been coming to Skywalker Ranch for decades, all drawn by the Force, however they choose to define it. Some don camouflage parkas and hike over the leafy Marin County ridgelines, while others drive right up to the front gate and try to con their way in, as if you could enter Valhalla on the grift. Geoff Boucher reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

iW NEWS | Magnolia Gets "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*"

Magnolia Pictures has announced a deal for worldwide rights to Christopher Bell's timely steroids doc, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," which debuted last month at the Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia will release the film in theaters later this year, followed by an HDNET broadcast. "I love this movie!" said Mark Cuban, owner of Magnolia, Landmark Theaters, HDNET, and the Dallas Mavericks, "It's informative, fascinating and hysterical - all the things a movie about steroids should be. You can't miss this one if you are a sports fan." Cinetic Media brokered the deal with Tom Quinn, Dori Begley and Jason Janego from Magnolia. In a recent interview with indieWIRE, filmmaker Bell -- whose own brothers use steriods -- wondered, Is it really un-American to use steroids? Or is there nothing more American than doing whatever it takes to be number one? We are, after all, a country that defines itself in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest nation in the world -- the last super power." [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]

iW NEWS | Fortissimo Lavishes "Gloss"

Fortisimo Films has acquired "Gloss," which will have a gala screening at next month's Hong Kong International Film Festival. Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky ("Nutcracker: The Real Story") takes a satirical and sexy look at the wave of capitalism sweeping through Russia. The film takes a "Cinderella-esque" story and interweaves it with a social commentary on the modernization of the Russian economy, examining its effects on those desperately trying to break out of their once inescapable poverty. The deal, for world wide sales rights outside France and Russia, was brokered by Fortissimo co-chair Michael J. Werner and Andrei Konchalovsky. The film made its market debut under Fortissimo earlier this month at the European Film Market. [Brian Brooks]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

AP: Hollywood writers approve new contract

Members of the Writers Guild of America have overwhelmingly approved a new contract with Hollywood studios that increases payment for shows offered on the Internet, the union said Tuesday. Lynn Elber reports. 
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iW NEWS | Cinequest To Open With "Eden"

The 18th Cinequest will open on Wednesday, February 27 with the world premiere of Paul Leuer's "Eden Court." "Court" stars Thomas Lennon and Kimberly Williams-Paisley and details the story of an ex-baseball star living in a trailer park who tries to escape his life by running off to Australia. The screening will take place at the California Theatre in San Jose. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | MK2 Canvases Panorama Doc "With Gilbert & George"

World rights to Julian Cole's Berlinale Panorama doc "With Gilbert & George" have been acquired by MK2. The film traces the relationship and creative partnership between the two artists. The film follows the pair not only to exhibitions in Russia and China, and follows them to their inner sanctum: the famous studio in Spitalfield where they have been living and working together since 1969. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | "Then She Found Me" and American Teen" Bookend 32nd Cleveland Film Fest

The directorial premiere of Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt's "Then She Found Me" will open the 32nd Cleveland International Film Fetival on Thursday, March 6. Based on the novel by Elinor Lipman, the film stars Hunt as a 39-year-old New York schoolteacher who wants nothing more than a baby. But her life begins to fall apart when, in quick succession, her husband (Matthew Broderick) suddenly leaves, her adoptive mother dies, and her birth mother Bernice (Bette Midler), an eccentric talk show host, materializes and turns her life upside down. In other CIFF news, John Sayles will be this year's Director's Spotlight, while Helen Hood Scheer ("Jump!") and Brillante Mendoza "("The Masseur") will be the focus of this year's "Someone to Watch." Closing the festival this year is Sundance '08 highlight, "American Teen" by Nanette Burstein. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Overture Takes "Sunshine Cleaning"

Overture Films has acquired U.S. rights to Christine Jeffs' ("Rain") "Sunshine Cleaning," starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, the company announced Tuesday. The two star as sisters striving to better their aimless lives while undertaking the unusual business of crime-scene cleaning. Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Jeb Brody produced along with Back Lot’s Glenn Williamson, with Cinetic Media representing the filmmakers in the sale. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW BOT CHART | "Duchess," "Counterfeiters" Lead

"The Duchess Of Langeais" from IFC is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published yesterday afternoon. The film has earned $22,251 from 2 theaters over the weekend (for an average of $11,126), closely followed by Sony Pictures Classics' Oscar winner, "The Counterfeiters," which averaged $10,939 on 8 screens. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

AP: Oscars are a TV ratings dud

The Oscars are a ratings dud. Nielsen Media Research says preliminary ratings for the 80th annual Academy Awards telecast are 14 percent lower than the least-watched ceremony ever. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Biz ]

SF360: Noise Pop Film Festival

You might think the Bay Area has just about every kind of film festival, from Irish to Icelandic, from sex workers to surfing to Buddhist. But one there's one seemingly obvious candidate that missing: A music film festival. Oh sure, almost every festival invariably includes some music-centered titles. Luckily for fans of alternative rock, punk, and folk-pop, Noisepop is a multimedia affair. Dennis Harvey reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AWARDS WATCH '08 | And the winners are...

The Oscars and Spirit Awards were presented this weekend in Southern California. "No Country for Old Men" won best picture from AMPAS (see indieWIRE article), while "Juno" won best feature from Film Independent (see indieWIRE article). Meanwhile iPOP offers photos from awards weekend in Los Angeles. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

AP: Elton John is the belle of Oscar parties

With Vanity Fair sitting out this year's celebrations, the belle of the Oscars parties was a piano playing Elton John. Solvej Schou reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

BBC: Lohan and Murphy dominate Razzies

Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy have both been crowned the worst actors of 2007 at the Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, which spoof the Oscars. BBC reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Biz ]

iW NEWS | Magnet Bites "The Right One" for North America

Magnolia Pictures' genre label Magnet has secured North American rights to European Film Market title, "Let The Right One In" from Bavaria Film International, the company announced Monday. Directed by Thomas Alfredson, the romantic horror is based on a best-selling novel by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist about a lonely twelve year-old boy and his friendship with a young girl, who appears to be a vampire. The deal was brokered by Stefanie Zeitler with Thorsten Schaumann and Bianca Schartl (Head of Business & Legal Affairs) on behalf of Bavaria Film International and Tom Quinn, SVP, and Jason Janego, Head of Legal and Business Affairs on behalf of Magnolia Pictures. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

AWARDS WATCH '08 | The Spirit Award Winners...

The Spirit Awards from Film Independent were presented yesterday in Santa Monica, CA. indieWIRE's dispatch includes all the winners, while iPOP offers photos from awards weekend in Los Angeles. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Counterfeiters," "Duchess" Open Strong

According to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak, Stefan Ruzowitzky's Oscar contender "The Counterfeiters" and Jacques Rivette's "The Duchess of Langeais" both opened well. Sony Pictures Classics' "Counterfeiters" led the iW BOT with an average of $12,559 from 8 locations, while IFC's "Duchess," on 2 screens, was just behind with an average of $11,257. Meanwhile, New Line's "Michel Gondry" feature, "Be Kind, Rewind" opened on a fairly wide 808 screens and managed to do decent business as well. The Jack Black starrer grossed $4.1 million for an average of $5,074. MGM's "Charlie Bartlett" didn't fair as well, opening on 1,122 screens it only grossed $1.8 million, averaging $1,622. Last week's iW BOT leader, Eran Kolirin's "The Band's Visit" doubled its screens to 26 and still found an average of $5,533. indieWIRE publishes its weekly box office column on Mondays and final weekend numbers for specialty and limited release films on Tuesdays. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt] 
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