Archives for February 2016

NORDISK FILM INKS 1ST L0OK DEAL

Last year Nordisk Film opened a new Swedish production company, Avanti Sweden, with 3 Swedish producers: Charlotta Denward, Anna Anthony & Anna Croneman. It also closed a deal with Swedish regional film centre, Film Väst and Swedish pubcaster SVT to invest up to €2.7 million ($3.0 million) per title in a couple of films, either arthouse films with a large audience potential, or more commercial productions with a high quality. It has started to pay off, Nordisk co – produced (and distributed) Swedish director Hannes Holm’s comedy drama A Man Called Ove, which won Guldbagga Awards, Sweden’s national film prizes, including “Best Actor” (Rolf Lassgård) and the Audience Award, and is now closing in on 1.5 million admissions in the local cinemas. “Sweden has really been a problem for a couple of years, Swedish film makers have left the country to work on international projects, others have concentrated on television projects. Actually, for the 1st time in a long period, we can now present a shooting schedule with some very interesting features,” Lone Korslund, Nordisk Film CEO, Nordic acquisitions & co -productions, told.

ZENTROPA SWEDEN PREPS 5 MOVIES

When 7 years ago Swedish producer Madeleine Ekman was offered the opportunity to lead the Swedish outpost of Denmark’s Zentropa Entertainment, her main task was to co – produce Peter Aalbæk Jensen – Lars von Trier – Zentropa projects, eventually adding some local talent. “But you can’t develop a production company without its own original profile,” said Ekman, who brought in her 1st Swedish director in 2011, Björn Runge and his award – winning Happy End.

With Swedish regional film centre Film Väst & Poland’s Lava Films, Zentropa Sweden produced Swedish director Magnus von Horn’s The Here After, which was selected for Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, and recently won a Guldbagga Award, Sweden’s national film prize, for “Best Film. It has just wrapped principal photography on Swedish director Izer Aliu’s feature debut, while shooting a miniseries for Swedish pubcaster SVT – Play, Hashtag.

CESC GAY’S TRUMAN TAKES BIG PRIZE

Truman, Cesc Gay’s friendship dramedy, produced by Marta Esteban, topped Spain’s 30th Spanish Academy Goya Awards Sat night sweeping “Best Picture”, “Best Director”, “Best Actor” (Ricardo Darin), “Best Supporting Actor” (Camara), “Best Original Screenplay (Gay & Tomas Aragay), kudos ceremony that lived up to its status as the widest open of recent years, spreading its plaudits widely. Following on Darin & Camara’s joint “Best Actor” plaudit at Sept’s San Sebastian Fest, Truman was, when the big prizes finally went down, the Awards’ clear major winner. But predictions of a wide open field proved true with the Spanish Academy’s 1,400 members spreading above & below – the – line plaudits widely. Isabel Coixet’s Mediapro produced 2015 Berlin Fest opener Nobody Wants The Night, a femme friendship drama starring Juliette Binoche as an intrepid & headstrong Josephine Perry, won 4 Goyas in all. A Perfect Day, a Cannes Directors’ Fortnight conflict zone set dramedy from Fernando Leon with Tim Robbins & Benicio Del Toro, won “Best Adapted Screenplay.

1ST LOOK AT ELLE’S TRAILER

Isabelle Huppert starrer Elle, the French language debut of Paul Verhoeven, now has a trailer. Lead produced by Said Ben Said’s SBS Productions, a company which has a strong line in films from some of Europe & America’s biggest name directors, one of its largest successes was Roman Polanski’s Carnage, Elle stars Huppert as the head of a top European video games company, a woman who seems indestructible, has it all, is always in control, is ruthless in business and is in love. One night, as she lets the cat in, a masked man in a ski suit bursts into her home, and rapes her. The attack changes Michele’s life forever. She reacts, resolutely, learns to fire a gun, sleeps with a hammer on her pillow, begins to suspect the assailant may be one of her employees, orders their email accounts to be hacked.

SH0OTS IN FRANCE BOUNCE BACK LURED 30% TAX REBATE

Wrapping Sat, 6th Feb, 2016, attendance at the 3rd Paris Images Trade Show ramped up strongly this year. One example: Paris Images Location Expo recorded a 25% increase in exhibitors and nearly a 50% hike in participants.Notwithstanding the terrorist attacks in Nov, 2015, film production levels in the Paris region have quickly bounced back and are expected to attain record levels in 2016 as a result of the new 30% rate in force for the domestic & international tax rebate programs. Major shoots confirmed for 2016 in the Paris area include Indian feature film Befikre, which has a 13 week shoot, with 10 weeks in Paris. There will also be a few days of shooting on Fifty Shades Darker. Christopher Nolan will lense Dunkirk in the North of France in May, 2016 and Neil Jordan will shoot TV series Rivieira in the South of France.

HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY HELPS PROPEL NEW PARIS’ STUDIOS KREMLIN

Located in Ivry – sur -Seine, a fast developing pole for film & TV production on the outskirts of Paris, Studio Kremlin occupies a former factory building. It launched in 2014 and immediately shot to prominence as a production base for Hunger Games: Mockingjay parts 1 & 2. In 2015, it received 2 grants from the CNC to invest in its studio infrastructure, and has recently installed a 3 side green screen cyclorama. Due to being housed in a former industrial building, the studio has a very high ceiling that is extensively used by commercials & music videos that need to use drones inside the studio. The industrial setting also attracts shoots looking for post industrial decors. Recent productions include Clovis Cornillac’s Un Peu Beaucoup Aveuglement, Jean -Patrick Benes’ sci – fi pic Arés, La Danseuse by Stephanie Di Giusto, and TV series Disney Dance Talents & Alcootest.

GALLIC TV DRAMAS BOOSTS EPINAY STUDIOS BIZ

Founded in 1907 by film lab & production company Eclair, Epinay Studios is France’s oldest studio complex, used by greats such as Marcel Carne, Jean Renoir, Milos Forman & Bertrand Blier. Epinay has 4 studios, including its famous 16,145 sq. ft. “F” stage, plus two 8,600 sq. ft. stages and one 2,150 sq. ft. stage. Last year was a strong one for the studio, according to sales executive Eric Moreau. Productions included a major primetime comedy TV series, Peps (a French acronym for “parents, students and teachers”), which has been lensing at Epinay for the past 3 years, occupying the two 8,600 sq. ft.stages. It has just completed its final season. Moreau explains that there is increasing demand for studio space to film TV fiction, but that it’s important to reserve space for cinema production. For example, in 2015, Olivier Baroux’s comedy Entre Amis, starring Daniel Auteuil, wanted to film at Epinay, but due to lack of studio space, had to film in Luc Besson’s Cité du Cinema.

SKY TO DOUBLE INVESTMENT IN NON – SPORT CONTENT IN 5 YEARS

European pay TV giant Sky will double its investment in non – sport content over the next 5 years, Gary Davey, the company’s managing director of content, said Thurs. Davey, who launched Sky 27 years ago when he was managing director, said the company is set to spend 5 billion GBP ($7.25 billion) this year on content, but wouldn’t break it down into sports & entertainment. He said that whenever any Sky executive talks about the business, there are 3 key words they always use, content, innovation & service, and content was the most important. “An important part of my job going forward is to make entertainment a primary reason to get Sky,” he told the audience of senior television executives at the Royal Television Society event in London.

INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE A BIG CONCERN FOR NETFLIX

Just months after Netflix shot its 1st original film in Ghana, the US based company has returned to the African continent. But while Netflix content will now be available in all 54 African nations, the streaming giant enters a region where Internet penetration, at just under 20%, is the world’s lowest. The mobile phone boom has helped bring Web access to an estimated 300 million Africans and growing, but high data costs & spotty connectivity have made it difficult for many VOD services to gain traction. “The infrastructure, generally, isn’t really here for streaming long – form content,” says Jason Njoku, founder of iRoko TV, widely referred to as the Netflix of Africa. “For millions, the data price points are way too high to pay for content streaming.” Recognising the challenges, iRoko switched to a mobile – 1st, Android – 1st, download – only version for its Africa platform last year. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has noted that his company is working on video -compression technology that will enable it to deliver data quickly “on any device in any broadband condition.”

3 ACTORS TALK ABOUT FRANCE & KOREA CO – PRODUCTION

This year’s 16th edition of Paris Images Cinema /Industrie Du Reve (3rd Feb, 2016 to 5th Feb, 2016) focused on relations between France & South Korea, which have intensified since the 2 countries signed a co -production treaty in 2007. Key conclusions from the discussions included the different storytelling codes prevailing in France & South Korea, as well as the different financing requirements & working methods. On 4th Feb, 2016 a series of round tables were held dedicated to different aspects of this topic, as well as a special session with French actress Isabelle Huppert, who discussed her experience of filming in South Korea for In Another Country, directed by Hong -Sang – Soo, who had previously shot Night And Day in Paris in 2008. In the round table on co -production experiences, French – Korean producer Nam Yoon – Seok talked about producing in Paris Night And Day, which had a relatively small crew of 20technicians.

KOREA & FRANCE BUILD CO -PRODUCTION RELATIONS

Paris Images Cinema /Industrie Du Reve featured a round table on animation co – production, which included a screening of JesusCastro’s documentary Snowpiercer: From The Blank Page To The Black Screen, about the making of $40 million South Korean / French science fiction pic Snowpiercer: From The Blank Page To The Black Screen directed by Bong Joon – Ho & written by Bong & Kelly Masterson, based on French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob & Jean – Marc Rochette. Jesus Castro explained how the film became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. The film clocked up 650,000 admissions, about $4.6 million, in France and had a limited theatrical release in US after discussions about the final cut between Bong & Weinstein Company, with the film finally released on VOD via TWC’s Radar channel, earning $2 million in the 1st week.

MISS GRANNY’S VIETNAM REMAKE IS TOP LOCAL TITLE OF 2015

Co – produced by Korean entertainment giant CJ Entertainment & Vietnam’s HK Film, Sweet 20 has become the 2nd highest grossing local film of all time in Vietnam. According to CJ Entertainment, Sweet 20 has made $4.41 million since its 11th Dec, 2015, release, staying on top of the local box office for 17 days in a row. Directed by Phan Gia Nhat Linh, Sweet 20 is a Vietnamese remake of Korean hit Miss Granny. The body swap romantic comedy features a 70 year old woman who transforms into a young woman in her 20’s. A director’s cut was released 5th Feb, 2016 release. Miss Granny is CJ Entertainment’s signature homegrown global project, which spearheads the company’s “one source multi – territory” strategy, through which original content is localised in several territories in order to cater to audience tastes. Miss Granny was released in Jan, 2014 in Korea and earned $53.7 million from 8.65 million admissions.

OSAKA ASIAN FESTIVAL TO FOCUS ON HOMECOMING VIETNAM

The Osaka Asian Film Festival (4th Mar, 2016 – 13th Ma3, 2016) will showcase a selection of films about homecoming as part of its 11th edition. The festival will open with Taiwanese director Huang Ming – Cheng’s Wansei Back Home and close with Japanese director Okita Shuichi’s The Mohican Comes Home. The 13 title competition section includes Royston Tan’s musical whimsy 3688, drama Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong, Thai hit Heart Attack (aka Freelance), the world premiere of Jason Kwan’s A Nail Clipper Romance & Hong Kong actor Chapman To’s directorial debut Let’s Eat. A section of films from Vietnam includes Big Father, Small Father And Other Stories, Yellow Flowers On The Green Grass and current hit Sweet 20. The festival plays at venues across the city including the Umeda Burg7 & ABC Hall.

SA LEITAO & CASTRO POWER UP BRAZIL’S AFROREGGAE

In a big move on Brazil’s production and, indeed, NGO scene, 2 of its most decisive film executives, former Rio secretary of culture & RioFilme president Sergio Sa Leitao
& Christian De Castro, a founding partner of consulting firm Zooks, have joined forces to tap investment & build a 1st movie – TV slate at Rio based & NGO owned production company AfroReggae Audiovisual. Sa Leitao will serve as AfroReggae CEO & Castro as its CFO. The rebooted company has tapped what its partners described Fri as a “significant” amount of investment from a group of high – net individuals including 3 former presidents of Brazilian banks, led by Arminio Fraga of Gavea Investimentos, as well as further investment from Funcine Investimage 1, a fund controlled by Thierry Peronne. AfroReggae’s 1st production slate, now in development, features 9 TV series & 4 movies.

MOSES AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS HITS BRAZILIAN THEATRES

Premiered on 28th Jan, 2016, Brazilian biblical epic Moses And The 10 Commandments, the 1st theatrical film produced by broadcaster TV Record, scored R$24.1 million ($6.1 million) at Brazil’s box office, marking the biggest 4 day weekend bow for a local pic in almost 2 years. Bowing on 1,162 screens, and released by Brazilian distributors Downtown Filmes & Paris Filmes, Moses And The 10 Commandments snagged 2.1 million admissions, with a strong average of 1,838 tickets per screen, according to Filme B, Brazil’s leading source of film statistical analysis. The film accounted for 53% of total Box Office, dislodging from no. 1 Sony’s The 5th Wave, who made $1.08 million in its 2nd weekend and has cumed $3.6 million to date.

SONY SETS MAD ABOUT YOU ADAPTATION IN ARGENTINA

Sony Pictures Television is heading south to Argentina to make a local version of the sitcom Mad About You.

Argentina’s leading broadcaster Telefe will adapt 60 episodes of the series titled Loco Por Vos with production set to kick off in early Mar, 2016. SPT has adapted several sitcoms for Argentina with Telefe including Casados Con Hijos (Married with Children), La Ninera (The Nanny), Hechizada (Bewitched) & Quien Es El Jefe (Who’s The Boss). Move follows the successful adaptation of Mad About You in China, known locally as Xin Hun Gong Yu (Wedding Apartment), which has amassed 161 million views on Ad based Video on Demand (AVOD) platform Youku in its 1st 3 weeks. The sitcom also airs on satellite channel Dragon TV where it continues to dominate its timeslot among all national satellite channels.

BOX OFFICE REACHES RECORD HIGH IN 2015

Hollywood tentpoles lifted Mexico’s Box Office 14.8% in 2015 in a record year for distribs & exhibs alike, generating sales of 13.8 billion pesos, or roughly $870 million, according to Mexico film chamber Canacine’s final report on the year released Wed. Box Office was boosted by a jump in the number of screens to 6,011 in 2015 from 5,733 in 2014 with exhibs Cinepolis & Cinemex dominating the market. Avengers: Age Of Ultron led the pack at $49.4 million followed closely by Fast And Furious 7 ($49.1 million), Minions ($45.7) & Jurassic World ($43.2 million). The overall take means Mexico Box Office expansion well outstripped global gross growth, which the report put at 6%.

NETFLIX CONFIRMS ACQUISTION OF LOOK WHO’S BACK

Netflix has confirmed that it has taken worldwide rights, excluding several territories, to David Wnendt’s Adolf Hitler satire Look Who’s Back. The global deal, negotiated by sales company Beta Cinema, excludes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Japan & Taiwan. The film will have its premiere on Netflix on 9th Apr, 2016. The movie, in which the Führer wakes up in present day multi – cultural Germany, has been a box office hit in Germany, grossing 19.6 million euros ($21.8 million) since its release in Oct, 2015. In the film, which is based on Timur Vermes’ best selling novel, Wnendt (Wetlands) has lead actor Oliver Masucci interact in character with real people in Borat – like documentary scenes. The film was produced by Christoph Müller & Lars Dittrich for Mythos Film & Constantin Film.

NETFLIX FACES CHALLENGES AS IT PLANS A GLOBAL LAUNCH

Netflix’s announcement this month that it is planning a global launch suddenly puts US streaming video giant on the map across Asia – Pacific region, but along with a host of local rivals, it faces challenges over content, pricing & regulation. What’s more, one of the biggest obstacles for Netflix in Asia is the sheer size of the region, and the economic & developmental gradients it must negotiate. Wealthy & westernized, Australia & Japan (where Netflix debuted in 2015) are worlds apart from India, which boasts a huge English speaking population and a fanatical film culture, but has poor broadband connectability and a host of formidable local players. In other high – income territories such as Hong Kong & South Korea, audiences have strong preferences for local. language programming. Netflix will either have to dedicate a great deal of management time to Asia or accept that progress will be modest.

SHORELINE ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES LATINO DIVISION

LA based Shoreline Entertainment is launching a Latino management & production division to answer the growing demand for diversity in casting & content across all media. Longtime Shoreline collaborator & producer Alex Flores has been tapped to head the division, which will produce content in both English & Spanish. The new initiative will be a natural extension of Shoreline’s management & sales divisions. “Our sales division can synergistically drive some of these projects as distributors have expressed significant interest in Hispanic. content,” said Shoreline CEO Morris Ruskin, who sees a greater demand for Latino talent across the board. Flores spent the last decade developing film funds with Shoreline Entertainment while producing animation for Animex, Olmos Productions & Phil Roman Entertainment.

STEPHEN GARRETT LAUNCHES CHARACTER SEVEN

Stephen Garrett, founder of MI – 5. & Life on Mars producer Kudos, has launched production company Character Seven, which is developing The Rook, a London set supernatural series for Hulu, with Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s company Fickle Fish & Lionsgate. Garrett, who co -founded Kudos in 1992 and was later joint managing director with Jane Featherstone, oversaw a run of TV series hits including MI – 5 (known as Spooks in UK), Hustle & Life on Mars.” As a film producer & executive producer, Garrett’s credits include Eastern Promises, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day & Salmon Fishing In The Yemen. Since leaving Endemol Shine Group – owned company in 2014, Garrett has been working on projects that bring together international talents.

UN PANEL TO RULE IN FAVOUR OF WIKILEAKS FOUNDER

A United Nations panel is set to rule in favour of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the BBC reported Thurs. Assange sought refuge in Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 to fend off extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual assault. If he left the embassy he would be arrested. Assange fears he would be extradited to US if he were sent to Sweden. In 2014, he lodged a complaint with UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention claiming he was being “arbitrarily detained.” The panel will announce their ruling on this Fri. Their decision on whether Assange has been unlawfully “detained” carries no legal force in UK or Sweden, and UK Government still intends to extradite him.

PATRA SPANOU REPPING GENERATION’S PLANTS

Germany based Patra Spanou is serving as sales -festival agent on Plants, the 1st feature of Chile’s Roberto Doveris that scored the Epicentre Film Award at 2015’s Bafici Fest BAL and a proved a highlight at BAL Goes to Cannes, both Latin American pix – in -post showcases. Associate produced by Alicia Scherson, Chile’s best – known distaff director & produced by Rocio Romero, Doveris’ Plants” is a sexually souped – up teen psycho-thriller & coming of age tale. Written by Doveris, Plants stars Argentine singer – songwriter Violeta Castillo as 17 year old Florencia who for the 1st time care son her own for her brother, who’s in coma. Reading that people with her brother’s condition can see, think, understand, though in a vegetative state, she falls under the spell of a comic, a sci – fi thriller Plants, about plant souls invading human bodies & unleashing their darkest desires.

ZDF TEAM ON BELLE ET SEBASTIEN

Gaumont Television is joining forces with Germain pubcaster ZDF to bring Belle Et Sébastien, an animated series based on the popular 1960’s TV show created by Cécile Aubry. Comprising 13. minute 52 episodes, Belle Et Sébastien follows the adventures of a 6 year old motherless boy and his friend, a big white dog, across the wilderness landscapes of the French Alps. “We truly think that (this series) depicts what today’s children want to see & dream of, especially those who live in a domestic environment,” said Nicole Keeb, topper of co -productions & acquisitions at ZDF. “With its classic look, Belle Et Sebastien fits perfectly into ZDF’s catalogue, which includes Lassie, Heidi, Wickie, Robin Hood among other titles,” added Keeb. “Belle Et Sébastien is produced by Canadian shingle PVP Group. Other recent deals include those with M6 (France), Piwi+ (France), Radio Canada (Canada), VRT (Belgique), RTBF (Belgique) & RTS (Suisse).

INTERNATIONAL TV MOVIES TAP COLOMBIAN FUNDS

A record number of foreign pics have been tapping Colombia’s new film incentives but TV movies have also been actively plumbing the perks. While the incentives are not applicable to TV series, TV movies & pilots can avail of the incentives which consist of a 40% cash rebate on production expenditures and a 20% cash rebate on logistical spend for projects spending no less than $600,000 in the country. Netflix’s hit drama series Narcos tapped the incentives for its pilot. Colombian broadcaster
Caracol TV, a co -producer of Colombia’s 1st ever foreign language Oscar nominated pic, Embrace Of the Serpent, continues to ramp up its English language TV movie slate inconjunction with partners LA based MarVis Entertainment
& Argentina’s SNAP Distribution. Their 1st co -production, Abducted has been sold to Lifetime in the US where it debuts on 14th Feb, 2016. Spain, France, & Latin America have also bought the TV Movie since Mipcom 2015.

FORTISSMO STRIKES 2 FILM DEAL WITH ZHANG WEI

Hong Kong & Amsterdam based Fortissimo Films has struck an agreement to represent a pair of pictures by Chinese producer -director Zhang Wei. The deal includes his 2 previous features Factory Boss & Destiny before his upcoming The Sound Of A Dream. Zhang’s last film, Factory Boss earned the “Best Actor” prize for Yao Anlian at the 2014 Montreal Film Festival. It will next play at Berlin Chinese Film Festival to be held from 16th Feb, 2016 to 23rd Feb, 2016 which overlaps with the Berlinale and as a market screening at the EFM. Zhang moved into film making after a successful career in business. He now operates his own Shenzhen based
production company, Huahao Film & Media. He is known for presenting candid visions of marginalised Chinese lives through his films. Destiny (Xi He) is the tale of an autistic boy’s struggle to get an education. Factory Boss is the story of an entrepreneur who desperately takes on low margin jobs to keep his business afloat. The big budget Sound Of A Dream is the story of 4 visually impaired children from Tibet whose dream is to appear on a TV talent show.

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE TO GET DAY & DATE RELEASE

Warner Bros superhero duel Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice is to be released in China on 25th Mar, 2016. The news emerged on a Chinese social media account for the film. It was subsequently confirmed by sources close to Warner.
The date of the China outing means that the picture can get a near simultaneous day. & date release with North America and many other major territories. That in turn minimizes the erosive effects of piracy in the world’s 2nd largest theatrical marketplace, and maximizes the effect of the global publicity & marketing campaigns. Chinese regulators have often appeared to want to throttle or limit the box office performance of Hollywood movies, in order to ensure that Chinese productions have a majority market share, but that is not always the case. China was the last country in the world to open Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening on 9th Jan, 2016, 3 or more weeks after most other territories.

PULSE EVOLUTION RECEIVES $10 MILLION INVESTMENT

Pulse Evolution, a specialist in creating holograms, has received a $10 million investment from Chinese companies Original Force Computer Animation Co & Shanghai U9 Game Co, Variety has learned exclusively. The companies have bought $10 million in Pulse common stock at a valuation of $1 per share. Both Original Force & U9 Game are backed by Chinese digital – entertainment giant Tencent Holding Limited. Pulse Evolution’s executive chairman John Textor gained notice for the computer – generated animation of Tupac Shakur, projected in holographic form at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music Festival. Textor was CEO of Digital Domain Media at the time. Textor launched Pulse in 2014 with the production of a “virtual” Michael Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards. “We are certainly pleased to have the support of Original Force and its chairman, Harley Zhao,” said Textor. “We have great respect for their commitment to story based content, and we share a belief that the greatest of stories deserve the very best in visual imagery.” Textor said the investment by Shanghai U9 Game is a validation of its technology.

BLITZ LAUNCHES $62 MILLION SHARE SALE

Graha Layar Prima, Indonesia’s number 2 multiplex chain, is seeking to raise $62 million (IDR850 billion) from a huge share issue. The company, which operates under CGV Blitz banner, says that up to $18 million (IDR250 billion) will be used to pay down existing debt. The balance will be used for cinema expansion in DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java & North Sumatra. Currently it operates 16 complexes. The share sale is structured as a rights issue of its Class C shares, and would dilute existing shareholders by 25% if they do not take up their rights. The total amount to be raised is equivalent to 250% of the company’s net revenue in 2014 (IDR332 billion), the year it floated on to the Indonesian Stock Exchange. The company has managed to keep revenue increasing since then, interim results for the 9 months to Sept, 2015 show revenues of $20.7 million (IDR287 billion), compared with $16.3 million (IDR226 billion) in the same period in 2014, but it remains loss making.

ATV HALTS NEWS BROADCASTS

Newscasts were halted on Sat at Asia Television (ATV), Hong Kong’s oldest TV broadcaster, after the company’s ongoing crisis turned into a death spiral. The company admitted that it did not have enough remaining editorial staff to put out the scheduled news shows. It was also reported that the company’s largest shareholder is seeking to liquidate the business. The failure to broadcast news puts the company in breach of the terms of its broadcast license, which requires ATV to provide two 15 minute evening news shows in Chinese & English each day. The company said that it hoped to resume news broadcasts after the Chinese New year holidays which began Mon 8th Feb, 2016 Regulator, the. Communications Authority said that ATV could be fined for its license breach.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE & BRUCE LEE TO BE HONORED

William Shakespeare & Bruce Lee are both to be honored at the upcoming Hong Kong International Film Festival to be held from 21st Mar, 2016 to 4th Apr, 2016. Marking the festival’s 40th edition & 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the HKIFF will program 3 vastly different film interpretations of Shakespeare’s stage play “Macbeth.” The trio are Akira Kurosawa’s Throne Of Blood, Roman Polanski’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth & last year’s Macbeth by star Australian director Justin Kurzel. “Macbeth’ has challenged film makers around the world as they have reimagined the interplay of fate & magic, human motivations & soul wrenching questions of loyalty & destiny. Yet, the violence at the heart of the play, with battles, beheadings & assassinations, also imposes demands on actors & audiences as powerful as the poetry of the Bard’s composition,” the festival said in a note.

Reviving a local legend, the HKIFF will also present restored, digital versions of 4 Bruce Lee starring films. It will screen Lee’s 1971 Hong Kong homecoming The Big Boss; nunchaku wielding 1972 epic The Fist Of Fury; The Way of the Dragon, which Lee also directed & The Game Of Death, the 1978 movie assembled & released 5 years after Lee’s death.

CANAL PLUS & SVT’s MIDNIGHT SUN SHOWCASED

At TV Drama Vision, the Göteborg International Film Festival’s 10th seminar on TV drama, Swedish directors Björn Stein & Måns Mårlind presented $10.9 million, 8 hour series, Midnight Sun, which is based on an original idea by Swedish writer – producer Henrik Jansson – Schweizer & Swedish – French producer Patrick Nebout. Starring French actress Leïla Bekhti (The Prophet) and Swedish actor Gustaf Hammer Hammersten, the Nice Drama -Atlantique Productions serial follows a French police officer (Bekti), who is dispatched to Sweden to investigate the brutal murder of a French citizen in Kiruna, in Sweden’s Arctic region, in collaboration with a Swedish prosecutor of Sami origin. More killing starts to happen, the victims seemingly have nothing in common, except that they are eliminated in a well -planned & vicious manner.

LAND OF MINE & DON JUAN TOP GOTEBORG FILM FEST

Films treating the aftermath of wars past & present & singular artistic visions captured top awards at this year’s Goteborg Film Festival, which ran from 29th Jan. 29 to 8th Feb, 2016. One night after nabbing Rotterdam’s audience award & MovieZone prize, Danish helmer Martin Zandvliet came away Goteborg’s biggest winner, scoring the generously endowed, approximately$120,000, Best Nordic Film kudo for Land Of Mine, a gripping portrayal of a group of young German POW’s forced to de – mine Danish beaches after the Axis defeat. Land Of Mine was a standout in a strong competition that also included the Academy Award nominated A War from Danish helmer Tobias Lindholm. Poland born, Sweden based helmer Jerzy Sladkowski took the Nordic docu nod with Don Juan, which centers on the relationship of a 22 year old autistic man and his neurotic mother who is determined to make him more “normal.” The docu also nabbed the main award at IDFA last fall, the 1st ever Swedish film to do so.