AFP | Indian stars shine as 'Bollywood Oscars' hit Bangkok

The first family of Indian cinema, led by film legend Amitabh Bachchan, kicked off celebrations Friday for the "Bollywood Oscars" with the star-studded premiere of their new political thriller. Claire Truscott reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

VAR & THR | Troubles in Indiewood

"Some specialty divisions seem to get it; others don't," writes Variety's Anne Thompson, surveying the recent cutbacks in Indiewood. Recent news of the demise of both Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures, followed by this week's announcement of a consolidation involving Paramount Vantage has industry insiders pondering the future. The Hollywood Reporter also looks at the situation today. "There are two ways of viewing all these changes: either that the market is falling apart or that this is a healthy shakeout," a producer told HR. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Reuters: Polanski victim wants case closed but no prison

Oscar-winning movie director Roman Polanski should not have to serve time in prison for unlawfully having sex with a 13-year-old girl 30 years ago, the victim now says. Michelle Nichols reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

VAR | Will Universal Rebuild Film Vault?

In the wake of the recent Universal Studios fire, archival insiders are weighing in on the situation. While no films were permanently lost, apparently some valuable prints that cannot be replaced. As Variety reports today, just because archival prints can be replaced, does not mean they will be. "That's the biggest fear," George Eastman House's Patrick Loughney told Variety. "That the only real revenue from these films is from cable TV and DVD, and they won't have new prints made. Then these important films won't be available in the form in which they were meant to be seen." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

VV | Newfest Turns 20

For The Village Voice, Ed Gonzalez previews the 20th Newfest, New York City's queer film festival.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Queer Cinema ]

HR | Theatrical execs might exit HBO

"HBO Films is in discussions with Maud Nadler and Julie Goldstein, two of its senior executives who concentrated on theatricals, about their future with the banner," according to the Hollywood Reporter. The trade continued, "HBO declined comment on their status. But the execs soon might depart as the company moves away from the theatrical business, a process begun last year when HBO Films began unwinding its relationship with now-defunct specialty division Picturehouse." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

NYT | No Films Appear Permanently Lost in Fire at Universal Lot

"The flames at Universal Studios last weekend may disrupt viewing plans for some film buffs in the coming weeks, though no movies appear to have been lost forever, studio executives said in response to queries on Wednesday." Michael Cieply reports for the New York Times. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

VAR | Paramount brings Vantage into fold

"Paramount is folding the marketing, distribution and physical production departments of Paramount Vantage into the larger studio," reports Anne Thompson at Variety, "Three people will be laid off." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW BOT UPDATE | "Grace" Tops The Chart

Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical

Tom Kalin's "Savage Grace" from IFC Films is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film earned $22,311 on 2 screens over the weekend. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Box Office ]

NYT: Sony Starts In Austin With "Baghead"

Sony Pictures Classics has raised a few eyebrows by deciding to open The Duplass Brother's latest film, "Baghead," in Austin, Texas instead of the typical NYC/LA splash. Michael Cieply reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Common Is LAFF's Artist In Residence

The Los Angeles Film Festival announced that rapper and actor Common will serve as the 2008 Artist in Residence. In this role, Common has programmed a sidebar of films that have been inspirational to him, including "Pulp Fiction" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." He will also participate in a pre-festival conversation of June 16, 2008 that will be free and open to the public. "We are thrilled to have Common as this year’s Artist in Residence," said LAFF Festival Director, Rich Raddon, in a statement. "His vision is eclectic and far-reaching, and aligns itself perfectly with what the Los Angeles Film Festival offers to audiences in Los Angeles." Common co-stars in the opening night film, Timur Bekmambetov's "Wanted." The festival runs June 19-29. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Stony Brook Fest Turns 13

The Stony Brook Film Festival, produced by the Staller Center for the Arts, announced its program for its 13th annual edition, running from July 17-26, 2008 in Stony Brook, New York. The Festival will open with Paolo Barzman's "Emotional Arithmetic, which stars Susan Sarandon, Christopher Plummer and Gabriel Byrne, and close with the East Coast Premiere of Gregory MacKenzie's "Camille," starring Sienna Miller and James Franco. World premieres include John Putch's "Route 30," starring Dana Delany, and Brent Huff's "Cat City," starring Rebecca Pidgeon. For a complete schedule, please visit the festival's website. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

NYT: A Hollywood Horror Story, With a Twist

M. Night Shyamalan says he knows exactly when his relationship with Hollywood started to sour... Allison Hope Weiner reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

AFP: French-Swiss director pulls out of Israeli film festival

Celebrated French-Swiss moviemaker Jean-Luc Godard has dropped out of an annual student film festival in Tel Aviv, an event official said on Saturday. AFP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

LAT | Low Water Pressure Hampers Fight Against Universal Studios Fire

"Low water pressure and an overwhelmed sprinkler system hampered the fight against a fast-moving fire that tore through two city blocks at the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot Sunday, destroying the "King Kong" tour and burning the sets for such blockbuster movies as "Back to the Future" and "Bruce Almighty," reports the LA Times. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "War" Leads, "Grace" Just Behind

Joshua Seftel's "War, Inc." again led the specialty-focused iW BOT this weekend, according to those films that submitted numbers to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. Remaining on 2 screens in its second weekend, the First Look release held on to a $12,105 average. Just behind it was the top debut, Tom Kalin's "Savage Grace, which also played on 2 screens and averaged $12,078 for IFC Films. Jody Hill's "The Fist First Way (from Paramount Vantage) also debuted decently, taking in $36,000 from 4 screens for a $9,000 average. Less fortunate openers included Stuart Gordon's ThinkFilm release, "Stuck," which averaged $5,100 from 2 screens, and the North American debut of Giuseppe Tornatore's "The Unknown Woman," which averaged $3,000 on 2 screens for Outsider Films. indieWIRE will publish its weekly box office column Monday night and final weekend numbers for specialty and limited release films on Tuesday. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]