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 February 18, 2008 EFM NEWS | Fortissimo Makes "Sparrows" Deal
=Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights (outside of Iran) to Majid Majidi's "The Song of Sparrows," winner of the best actor award at the Berlinale. The film also recently won the best director, editing, original score and makeup prizes at the Fajr Film Festival. [Eugene Hernandez]  [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] EFM NEWS | NonStop Deals for "River," "Punch"
NonStop Entertainment has acquired Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River" (in a deal with Rezo Films) and Olly Blackburn's "Donkey Punch" (in a deal with Lumina Films) for distribution in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The company also acquired in Berlin this year, Trygve Allister Diesen's "Red" (from Bleiberg Entertainment), "Seven Days" (from Wild Bunch) and John Sayles "Honeydripper" (from Rezo). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] February 16, 2008Reuters: Hollywood epic and UK comedy vie for Berlin honors
Dark Hollywood epic "There Will Be Blood," already awash with prizes and nominated for eight Oscars, takes on a light-hearted low-budget British comedy for top honors at the Berlin International Film Festival this year. Mike Collett-White reports. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] February 14, 2008iW NEWS | "Queen Raquela" Wins Top Teddy Prize
Olaf de Fleur's "The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela" won the Teddy Award for best feature film at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival tonight in Germany, with Tanaz Eshagian's doc, "Be Like Others" winning both the jury prize and the Siegessaeule Reader's Choice Award. The prize for best documentary went to David Assmann and Ayat Najafi's "Football Under Cover." "This year's documentaries overwhelmingly won the hearts of the Teddy Jury by approaching challenging and thought-provoking subjects in an accessible and effective manner," said the jury, in a statement, "The most cinematic and gripping of them all subtly and humorously tackles gender-roles in sports in Islamic society." Felipe Sholl's "Ta" won the Teddy for best short film. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Documentary, Honors ] February 12, 2008EFM NEWS | Seventh Art Takes "Two Lives" for North America
Seventh Art Releasing has picked up North American rights to French feature "Two Lives Plus One" at the European Film Market, a Seventh Art spokesperson told indieWIRE Tuesday. The deal was negotiated by Udy Epstein and Matt Henderson for Seventh Art and Sebastien Chesneau from Paris-based Rezo. The company plans a fall roll out after screening it in upcoming North American film festivals. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] iW NEWS | Strand Resurrects "Otto" for the U.S.
Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Bruce LaBruce's "Otto; Or, Up with Dead People," Maximum Films has announced. The deal for the film, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and is having its European debut in Berlin Tuesday night, was negotiated by Jon Gerrans of Strand Releasing and Charlotte Mickie of Maximum Films International. Jey Crisfar portrays Otto, a young zombie who rises from the dead and hitches a ride to Berlin where he comes to reside at an amusement park and is discovered by a filmmaker who is completing her epic political porno movie. Millivres, meanwhile, has acquired all rights for the UK. Strand plans a fall 2008 release. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] INSIDE WORD in Berlin | Miramax Making Deal for Mike Leigh's Latest?
"Happy" deal closing... Word on the festival circuit overnight, via a pair of competitors, has Miramax Films in the running to acquire Mike Leigh's Berlin International Film Festival entry, "Happy-Go-Lucky." The film, which was screened early for select buyers last week in Berlin, has its official premiere today (Tuesday) at the Berlinale. Trade reports in Screen and the Hollywood Reporter this morning reiterated the buzz, but reached late yesterday a Miramax spokesperson said talk of a pact was, "Still premature." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] February 11, 2008iW NEWS | SPC Announces "12" Pact
Sony Pictures Classics has annonuced a deal for North American rights to Nikita Mikhalkov's "12," an Oscar nomineed in the best foreign language film category this year. The courtroom drama is loosely adapted from Sidney Lumet's "12 Angry Men." SPC also released Mikhalkov's Oscar-winner, "Burnt By The Sun." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin, World Cinema ] February 8, 2008EFM NEWS | Magnet Bucks a "Donkey Punch" for North America
North American rights to British thriller "Donkey Punch" have been acquired by Magnet Releasing, Magnolia Pictures' genre label. The film, directed by Olly Blackburn recently premiered at Sundance and will be released in the U.K. by Optimum Releasing this summer. Magnolia's SVP Tom Quinn and director of acquisitions Dori Begley, negotiated the deal with London-based Lumina Films' Samantha Holrley and Miles Ketley of Wiggin LLP. "Donkey" follows the travails of seven young adults who meet in a nightclub and decide to continue the party aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean. The fun is interrupted when one dies, leading to a ruthless fight for survival. The film is screening in the European Film Market currently underway in Berlin with Lumina handling international sales. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] EFM NEWS | NonStop Gets "Frozen River"
Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River" has been acquired by NonStop Entertainment for distribution in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] EFM NEWS | Scorsese Set With Marley Film
Announced at the European Film Market this morning in Berlin -- the day after the world premiere of "Shine A Light" -- is the news that Martin Scorsese will make an authorized documentary about musician Bob Marley. Produced by Tuff Gong Pictures and Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment, the film is being sold internationally by Fortissimo Films. Marley's son Ziggy is an executive producer of the film. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Movies ] February 7, 2008BERLINALE '08 | Bier, Bonnaire Exit Berlin Jury
At the Berlin International Film Festival, jurors Susanne Bier and Sandrine Bonnaire dropped out on the first day of the event. Bier said, in a statement, that she had to stay in the U.S. due to "unforeseen circumstances related to her next film." Meanwhile, Bonnaire resigned from the jury because she will be unable to stay in Berlin for the duration of the festival, due to family reasons. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] EFM NEWS | Celluloid Signs "Wackness"
Celluloid Dreams has signed a deal to rep international sales for Jonathan Levine's "The Wackness," the recent dramatic audience award winner at the Sundance Film Festival. The film, recently acquired for North American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics, stars Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Mary Kate Olsen, Olivia Thirlby and Method Man. It was produced by Occupant Films partners Keith Calder, Felipe Marino and Joe Neurauter. The film is screening for buyers tomorrow and next week at the European Film Market in Berlin. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin ] February 4, 2008IFC Gets "Ballast" Ahead of Berlinale
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. IFC Films today announced the acquisition of Lance Hammer's 2008 Sundance Film Festival dramatic competition debut, "Ballast." The company has acquired North American rights to the movie, which is set to screen in competition at the upcoming Berlinale. The deal was negotiated by VP of acquisitions Arianna Bocco and William Morris Independent's Cassian Elwes. Asked what prompted the idea for this film, in an interview with indieWIRE, director Hammer said recently, "The Mississippi Delta in winter is a cold and austere flatscape - almost lunar. Vast cotton acreages are fallow and devoid of human activity. The flatness is interrupted only by occasional hardwood outcroppings, which are grey and leafless. The skies are steel and saturated with rain. There is an energetic resonance in the Delta that moves me, especially in the winter. It is something that I cannot easily articulate but has to do with a sense of sorrow, and the dignity of endurance in the face of sorrow. It's quite palpable...I'm hopeful that some of this tone has been conveyed with this iteration."[permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Berlin, Park City ] January 30, 2008AFP: Abu Ghraib documentary to premiere at Berlinale
A picture about the prisoner abuse scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail will become the first documentary ever to enter the competition at the Berlin Film Festival next month, organisers said Tuesday. "Standard Operating Procedure" by Oscar-winning director Errol Morris uses recovered footage, reenactments and the notorious photographs published round the world... AFP reports. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Documentary, Festivals ] AFP: Diane Kruger, Sandrine Bonnaire to join Berlin film festival jury
Hollywood actress Diane Kruger and French star Sandrine Bonnaire will join the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival next month, on a panel led by Greek-French director Costa-Gavras, organisers said Tuesday. AFP reports. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] January 15, 2008iW NEWS | Scorsese's "Shine A Light" to Open the 58th Berlinale
Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones concert film "Shine A Light" will open the 58th Berlin International Film Festival February 7, the event announced today. The film captures two concerts at New York's Beacon Theatre on October 29 and November 1 in 2006. Sixteen cameras and more than a half milion feet of concert footage were shot. The concerts also featured performances from Jack White of the White Stripes as well as appearances by Christina Aguilera and Buddy Guy in addition to behind the scenes coverage. "We are extremely excited to have the world premiere of this magnificent film as our opening gala," commented festival director Dieter Kosslick in a statement. "Martin Scorsese has captured the pure essence of an iconic band on the big screen." [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] January 9, 2008iW NEWS | Berlinale Adds Nine to 2008 Competition
Nine titles have been added to the Berlinale line up, competing for the festival's Golden and Silver Bear Awards. Joining the eight titles previously announced are: "Feuerherz" (Heart of Fire) by Luigi Falomi, based on the bestselling novel by Senait Mehan; "Julia" by Erick Zonca starring Tilda Swinton; "Lady Jane" by Robert Guediguian; "Caos calmo" (Quiet Chaos) by Antonello Grimaldi (International premiere); "Happy-Go-Lucky" by Mike Leigh; "Restless" by Amos Kollek; "Elegy" by Isabel Coixet, starring Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley and Dennis Hopper; "Sparrow" by Johnnie To; and "Kabei" by Japanese filmmaker Yoji Yamada (International premiere). The 2008 Berlin International Film Festival takes place February 7 - 17 in the German capital. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] January 3, 2008Guardian: Madonna's directorial debut to take its bow in Berlin
In an intriguing selection that could well enthrall and appall in equal measure, programmers for spring's Berlin International Film Festival have selected Madonna's first film as director among its line-up. Jeremy Kay reports. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] December 12, 2007iW NEWS | Maddin, Rossellino to Open Berlinale Forum
Guy Maddin's "My Winnipeg" and Isabella Rossellini's short films, "Green Porno" (made for mobile devices) will open the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival on February 8, 2008 in the German capital. "Fun in experimentation plays a shaping role in both 'Green Porno' and 'My Winnipeg'," noted the festival, in an announcement, adding that Maddin will narrate his film live at the event. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ] Older Buzz/Rumors about BerlinDecember 10, 2007 March 27, 2007 March 6, 2007 February 23, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 15, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 10, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 29, 2007 January 25, 2007 January 25, 2007 January 23, 2007 January 17, 2007 January 15, 2007 January 10, 2007 December 19, 2006 February 22, 2006 February 18, 2006 February 18, 2006 February 18, 2006 February 17, 2006 February 16, 2006 February 16, 2006 February 15, 2006 February 14, 2006 February 13, 2006 February 13, 2006 February 13, 2006 February 9, 2006 February 9, 2006 February 7, 2006 February 7, 2006 | |
