News

"Burma VJ" Set for Film Forum in May, HBO Gets TV Rights

HBO has acquired TV rights to Anders Ostergaard's doc "Burma VJ," the hit of November's IDFA. Set for its North American debut on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, the film will open theatrically at New York's Film Forum in May, well ahead of its early 2010 HBO television debut.

Goldwyn Embeds "Brothers at War" for U.S.

U.S. rights to Jake Rademacher's doc "Brothers at War" have been picked up by Samuel Goldwyn Films, the company announced Thursday morning. Peter Goldwyn negotiated the deal on behalf of the company with Endeavor Independent head Graham Taylor and attorney Craig Emanuel of Loeb & Loeb LLP on behalf ...

14 Added to Berlinale Competition: Frears, Ozon, Tavernier, Wajda and More

Organizers at the Berlin International Film Festival have added fourteen films to the competition lineup for the 2009 festival, joining titles that were announced last month. The upcoming Berlinale, set for February 5 - 15 in Germany, will finalize its lineup soon.

"Slumdog," "Button" Each Score 11 BAFTA Nods

Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" and David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" led the 62nd Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), with 11 nominations each. Both films received nominations for best picture, best director, best actor (Dev Patel for "Slumdog," Brad Pitt for "Butt...

Schamus: "Focus is not like any other specialized company"

"Focus goes global" was the headline in Variety this afternoon, trumpeting the news that Focus Features would merge with studio parent Universal's international film production group. The move will extend the Focus brand to the production and distribtution of films around the world, company CEO Jame...

Sony Classics to Bring Sundance Title "Rudo Y Cursi" to North America

Sony Classics confirmed its North American rights acquisition of Carlos Cuaron's "Rudo Y Cursi," which will have its U.S. premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, who last starred together in Cuaron's "Y Tu Mama Tambien." In its three weeks in th...

"Treeless" Goes To Oscilloscope

The North American distribution rights to So Yong Kim's "Treeless Mountain" have been acquired by Oscilloscope Laboratories, it was announced today. The film, which details two sisters in Seoul, Korea trying to adapt to drastic changes in their lives, was very well-received at its 2008 Toronto Inte...

Universal Combining Focus Features with Studio's Int'l Production Arm

Epoch Plans a "Perfect" and "Funk" Spring

A U.S. theatrical deal has been unveiled for revenge noir pic "The Perfect Sleep," directed by Jeremy Alter and Craig Carlisle's romantic dramedy "Bob Funk," L.A.-based production, finance and distribution company Unified Pictures announced Wednesday. Cinema Epoch will handle U.S. distribution for t...