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Archives for May 2016

Kumble re-appointed ICC cricket panel chief, Dravid made member

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Photo: PTI

Photo: PTI

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday re-appointed former India skipper Anil Kumble as its cricket committee chairman while his teammate Rahul Dravid was added as a member of the panel along with Sri Lanka’s former skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

Kumble, who was appointed the chairman in 2012 was given a three-year extension at the top post, the ICC said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Dravid and Jayawardene have been appointed to the committee, adding even more cricketing experience to the list of eminent people already on the committee.

Dravid and Jayawardene have played 1,161 international matches between them from 1996 to 2015, and each has been appointed for a three-year term. They will attend their first meeting at Lord’s on May 31 and June 1, three weeks before the ICC annual conference takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Dravid has been elected by the current Test captains as current player representatives, replacing former Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, who has completed his final three-year term.

Jayawardene has been appointed as a past player representative and takes over from former Australia captain Mark Taylor, who has also completed his final three-year term.

Former Australia off-spinner and ex-Chief Executive of Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA), Tim May, has also been elected by the current Test captains as current player representative, replacing Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who has completed his three-year term.

Richard Kettleborough, three-time ICC Umpire of the Year, has been appointed as umpires’ representative in the committee and replaces Steve Davis, who retired last year.

ICC general manager cricket, Geoff Allardice, who also administers the ICC Cricket Committee meeting, said, “I want to thank Mark Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Steve Davis for their significant contribution to this committee.”

(IANS)

Malegaon blasts: NIA files chargesheet, clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya

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Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

Mumbai: In a complete U-turn, the NIA today dropped all charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case while charges under the stringent MCOCA law have been given up against all the other 10 accused including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit.

During investigation, “sufficient evidences have not been found against” Pragya Singh Thakur and five others, the NIA said, adding it has submitted in the chargesheet “that the prosecution against them is not maintainable”.

Today’s development in the case, in which seven people were killed in twin blasts when people were coming out of prayers during Ramzan in September 29, 2008.

There have been a lot of twists and turns in the probe into the Malegaon blast which was described as a handiwork of people associated with Hindu right wing groups.

The case was investigated initially by Joint Commissioner of Mumbai’s ATS Hemant Karkare who was killed during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Before the NIA took over the case in 2011, ATS had booked 16 people but filed charge sheets on January 20, 2009 and April 21, 2011 against 14 accused in a Mumbai court.

Purohit and Pragya had moved several applications before Bombay High Court and Supreme Court challenging the charge sheet and applicability of stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case.

Shiv Narayan Kalsangra, Shyam Bhavarlal Sahu, Praveen Takkalki, Lokesh Sharma and Dhan Singh Choudhury are the other five accused against whom charges have been dropped besides Sadhvi.

The agency also said during investigation that it has been established that no offence is attracted in this case under the Maharashtra Control of Crimes Act (MCOCA), in which any statement given before a SP level officer is admissible as an evidence.

“In furtherance of same, the confessional statements recorded under provisions of MCOC Act by ATS Mumbai have not been relied up on by the NIA in submitting the present Final report,” the agency said in its chargesheet.

Lt Col Purohit and nine others will now be tried for charges including murder and conspiracy under the provisions of anti-terror law UAPA, IPC, Arms Act and Explosives Substance Act.

Director General of NIA Sharad Kumar told reporters today there was no dilution in the case.

Asked about the stand taken by the agency in the past when it had opposed the bail plea of Sadhvi and others even in the Supreme Court, he said “till our investigation was not complete, we had to go by the probe done by the ATS. Now that we have completed the investigations, we have submitted our final report (chargesheet)”.

The chargesheet was today submitted by public prosecutor Geeta Godambe before Special Judge S D Tekale here.

Special Public Prosecutor in the case Avinash Rasal said he was not informed about the filing of the chargesheet (by the NIA). “I am hurt and I may resign from the case”, Rasal said.

The Congress attacked the NIA decision to drop charges against Sadhvi Praygya and five others besides diluting the case against Lt Col and nine other accused.

Senior leader Digvijay Singh said “as I had predicted BJP and RSS have started the process of saving the Sangh Activists involved in Terror Cases.”

“Was the DG of NIA given extension for this?” he asked.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju dismissed the allegation saying government does not interfere in the investigation by the agencies. “We allow agencies to work independently,” he said.

(Agencies)

 

Rajan unfit to be RBI Guv, should be removed: Subramanian Swamy

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subramanian swamy

New Delhi: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today suggested that Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan be removed from the post as he was responsible for “unemployment and collapse” of industrial activity.

“In my opinion, RBI Governor is not appropriate for the country. I don’t want to speak much about him. He has hiked interest rates in the garb of controlling inflation that has damaged the country,” he told reporters in Parliament House.

The Governor’s actions have “led to collapse of industry and rise of unemployment in the economy”, he said. “The sooner he is sent back to Chicago, the better it would be.”

Rajan is the on-leave Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

After assuming charge as RBI governor in September 2013, Rajan gradually raised the short-term lending rate from 7.25 per cent to 8 per cent and had retained the high rates throughout 2014.

He kept the rates high, citing inflationary concerns despite intense pressure from the Finance Ministry and the industry for softening them with a view to boosting growth.

The Governor began the process of lowering the rates in January 2015 and since then it has come down by 1.50 per cent to 6.50 per cent.

(PTI)

Doctors demand removal of Karnataka State Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners’ Board registrar Dr Thimmappa Shettigar

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dr-thimmappa-shettigarBengaluru: The Karnataka State Ayush Associations’ Joint Action Committee has demanded a CBI probe into the widespread corruption in Karnataka State Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners’ Board (KAUPB) and sought immediate transfer of board’s registrar Dr Thimmappa Shettigar. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the committee members alleged that the KAUPB was formed to protect the interest of the Ayurveda and Unani practitioners but was instead acting against the doctors and ending up harassing and embarrassing them.

Corrupt practices

Speaking at the press conference, National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) Karnataka chapter president Dr Bhusanurmath said, “The KAUPB registrar Dr Thimmappa Shettigar was involved in corrupt practices and refused to vacate the registrar’s post despite being transferred on April 21. An FIR has been lodged against Dr Shettigar in Bhadravati police station for his involvement in the death of District Ayush officer Dr Mohammed Hussain. Yet, no action is taken against Dr Shettigar so far. Though he has been transferred from his post, he has been clinging to his seat and not allowing his incumbent to take over. He is also using all the political influence to stall his transfer. We request the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister UT Khader to immediately shift him out of the Board and initiate action. If the government fails to take action, then we will be forced to organise mass protests across the state. We also demand the State Government to immediately hand over the corruption scandal in KAUPB to CBI for a fair enquiry.”

No action against fake doctors

NIMA’s ex-All-India president Dr KC Ballal said, “Dr Shettigar has been at the helm of affairs at KAUPB for the last five years. He is not only holding all the administrative control but also acting with a personal vendetta. He has been directly accused in the death of honest Shivamogga District Ayush Officer Dr Mohammed Hussain. Hence, he should be immediately transferred. Despite complaints related to the fake doctors, Dr Shettigar failed to take any action yet he never left a chance to harass the honest doctors with a personal vendetta. Dr Shettigar is also treating registered medical practitioners as criminals and termed them as ‘mafia’ for demanding a fair enquiry into the death of District Health Officer Dr Mohammed Hussain. His language is unbecoming of a registrar’s post. Dr Shettigar is also not following the decisions of KAUPB and instead implementing according to his whims and fancies.”

State-wide protest if Dr Shettigar is not removed

Akhila Karnataka Ayurvedic Medical Association president Dr Bharadwaj said, “In March 2016, Dr Shettigar pressurised Dr Mohammed Hussain to file a police complaint against registered medical practitioners under false charges. When Dr Hussain refused to do so citing government regulations that the a complaint cannot be filed in the police station and can be done only at a magistrate court (as per KAUPB rules and regulations, section 40), Dr Shettigar forced Dr Hussain to do so at the police station itself. Under severe pressure, Dr Hussain collapsed and died at Bhadravati police station immediately. We wonder why did Dr Shettigar pressurise Dr Hussain so much? A case has been filed in Bhadravati police station against Dr Shettigar and three others for their involvement in the death of Dr Hussain. Even during so called raids, Dr Shettigar choreographs the raids in such a way to gain maximum media coverage for himself and showing the doctors in poor light. While Dr Shettigar is not taking any action against thousands of fake doctors, he is constantly targetting the registered and authorised post-graduate Ayush doctors.”

Remove Dr Shettigar from registrar’s post

The Association members said that they have brought the whole issue to the notice of Health Minister UT Khader who initially didn’t take action but later formed a committee which found Dr Shettigar guilty of corrupt practices. Subsequently, on April 21, Dr Shettigar was transferred from the post. However, he refused to move out of his job and never allowed his incumbent to take over. He is also now producing a letter by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying that he has got the sanction to continue in the post. “We wonder why the politicians are promoting this corrupt officer who is harassing thousands of doctors in the state. We demand his immediate ouster from the job failing which we will be forced to launch a state-wide agitation against him and the corrupt practices, “Dr Bhusanurmath demanded. The association, with the help of media, request the State Government to immediately interfere in the issue and provide justice to thousands of doctors.

Iraq: At least 50 killed in Sadr City market explosion

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ISIL claims car bombing in predominantly Shia Sadr City that left scores of casualties.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on social media shortly after the blast [Khalid Mohammed/AP]

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on social media shortly after the blast [Khalid Mohammed/AP]

by Al Jazeera

A car bomb in a predominantly Shia district of the Iraqi capital has killed at least 50 people and wounded at least 100 others, police sources told Al Jazeera.

An SUV packed with explosives blew up near a beauty salon in a bustling market at rush hour in Baghdad’s Sadr City on Wednesday.

Most of the victims were women, Iraqi police and hospital sources told the Reuters news agency.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on social media shortly after the blast.

The group said the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber, a claim Iraqi officials denied.

There are fears that the death toll will rise further.

In the last two weeks, ISIL has claimed responsibility for two attacks targeting the Shia community in Baghdad.

First, a car bomb, targeting an open-air market frequented by Shia in Nahrawan near the Iraqi capital, killed at least 23 people and injured 38 others.

Two days later, a car bombing targeting Shia pilgrims commemorating the death anniversary of a revered 8th-century imam killed at least 18 people.

In February, ISIL also claimed a twin suicide bombing in Sadr City that killed 70 people.

According to the UN, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April owing to ongoing violence, a sharp decline from the previous month.

In its monthly report issued on May 1, the UN mission to Iraq put the number of civilians killed at 410, while the rest were members of the security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded that month, it added.

In March, at least 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded.

Baghdad remains the worst-hit area in terms of documented deaths, with 232 civilians killed and 642 wounded in April.

The fight against ISIL has exacerbated a long-running sectarian conflict in Iraq, mostly between the Shia majority and the Sunni minority.

Sectarian tensions also threaten to undermine efforts to dislodge ISIL from vast areas of the north and west of Iraq that they seized in 2014.

Bangladesh executes Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes

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Jamaat-e-Islami calls for general strike after hanging of its leader who was convicted of genocide, rape and massacres.

Motiur Rahman Nizami

by Al Jazeera

Bangladesh has executed head of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami party Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence to break away from Pakistan, the country’s law minister said.

Nizami was hanged at Dhaka Central jail at one minute past midnight local time on Wednesday after the Supreme Court rejected his final plea against a death sentence imposed by a special tribunal for genocide, rape and orchestrating the massacre of top intellectuals during the war.

Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in the capital Dhaka and other major cities to tighten security as Jamaat-e-Islami called for a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest of the execution.

Previous similar judgments and executions have triggered violence that killed around 200 people, mainly Jamaat activists and police.

Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, said the situation was still calm in the capital by Wednesday and there were no reports of violence in other cities.

“Unlike the last few years, Jamaat has not been able to materialise any kind of protest on the streets,” he said, adding that this was mainly due to heavy-handed tactics used by the security forces.

“Jamaat supporters are not allowed to gather anywhere. Many of the leaders are behind the bars or on the run,” he said.

“Human rights groups have criticised the government for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. So, it is hard for them to gather anywhere. We will see what will come out of Jamaat’s call for a 24-hour strike tomorrow from 6am.”

Jamaat-e-Islami denies that its leaders committed any atrocities. Calling Nizami a “martyr”, it said he was deprived of justice and made a victim of a political vendetta. Nizami had been in prison since 2010.

‘False allegations’

A senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader based abroad told Al Jazeera that Nizami was a supporter of Pakistan in 1971 but “all other allegations of killing, murder and rape are not correct. The tribunal has miserably failed to prove any of those allegations.”

He said Jamaat leaders inside Bangladesh were not giving interviews because their phones were tapped and their families were harassed if they spoke to media.

“Not only leaders, thousands of middle-ranking and ordinary Jamaat workers have been forced to flee their homes due to police repression or harassment. They are refugees in their own country due the vindictive nature of this government,” he said.

“Their agenda is to wipe out Islam gradually and whoever they think opposes their policies is being targeted.”

Five opposition politicians, including four Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, have been executed since late 2013 after being convicted by the tribunal.

International human rights groups say the tribunal’s procedures fall short of international standards – an accusation the government denies.

According to Phil Robertson, the deputy director of the Asia division at the Human Rights Watch, the trial was neither free nor fair as the court was cutting corners on fair trial standards.

“For example, Nizami was allowed to have only four defence witnesses as a man fighting for his life. And the court did allow defence to challenge the inconsistencies in the testimonies of prosecution witnesses,” he told Al Jazeera from Bangkok.

“Finally, we have seen a significant problem in all of these war crimes trials, where the presiding judge was having ongoing discussions about judicial strategy with external consultants and prosecutors in a way that raises concerns about the independence of the panel.”

David Bergman, an investigative journalist in Dhaka, told Al Jazeera that there was long-standing allegations against Nizami since the end of the war.

“So the fact that there was a trial in which he was accused of these crimes is not itself political,” he said, while also noting rights groups’ criticism of the trials.

“There are no doubts that many members of Jamaat-e-Islami are concerned about trials and executions targeting its members, and the party itself is subject to significant repression.”

The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and drawn criticism from opposition politicians, including leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, that it is victimising Hasina’s political opponents.

According to the Bangladesh government, about three million people were killed and thousands of women were raped during the 1971 war in which some factions, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, opposed the break from what was then called West Pakistan.

The execution comes as the country suffers a surge in violence in which atheist bloggers, academics, religious minorities and foreign aid workers have been killed.

In April alone, five people, including a university teacher, two gay activists and a Hindu, were hacked to death.

A Biopic on APJ Abdul Kalam Coming Soon

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Pramod Gore with relative of Dr APJ Kalam

It’s the season of Biopics in Tinsel Town, after biopics on the likes of Milkha Singh, Mary Kom, Sarabjit Singh and more it’s the life story of former Indian President namely the late APJ Abdul Kalam that’s attracted the film industry.

Film maker Pramod Gore who last made the acclaimed Marathi film Reti has taken up the herculean task to picturise the life & the times of the highly coveted scientist turned politician Abdul Kalam. “I will be producing the film under my banner Atharva Motion Pictures,” says producer Pramod Gore. But we wonder what made him take up this subject. “There’s so much that Kalamji has done for our nation, he is an inspiration to all of us. A complete rags to riches story where a boy from a small village rose against all odds to become not just the talented scientist that he was but also our President. I was amazed how a story as great as this still remained untold,” says the filmmaker.

Quite contrary to just producing the film, Pramod Gore went to the lengths of travelling till Rameshwaram, Kalam’s native place, met his elder brother who is now 99 years old along with his nephew who is 66 to get more insight into the life that APJ Abdul Kalam lived. “Yes, I traveled till Rameshwaram because I want to be thorough & not falter in conveying a story as great as this. And also had to seek permission from his family before going ahead with this film. I have also bought all of his 22 written works including the likes of “Ignited Minds”, “Wings of Fire”, “India 2020”, “The Kalam Effect” and more to have enough material.”

It is learnt that Pramod Gore will be signing a Hollywood director to make this biopic and wants to cast Irrfan Khan or Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role. Confirming the news Pramod Gore avers, “There have been umpteen films on Gandhi but the one which stood out was that of Richard Attenborough. It’s not easy to weave an entire life into a 2 and a half hour film and I want capable hands on board for it. Which is why I want to cast Irrfan Khan or Nawazuddin Siddiqui also as APJ Abdul Kalam because I think they will be able to do full justice to the film.”

Similarly, Pramod Gore wants to rope in Allah Rakha Rahman for music & Gulzar for lyrics. “I have already registered the title of the film APJ with IMPPA which shows the seriousness of this project and I really think the industry should come out and support a film like this. Yes, I want to approach Allah Rakha Rahman & Gulzar Sahab because this story deserves the best. I will also be approaching the Indian Government, asking them if they want to make this film with me. I am hopeful for a positive response,” says Pramod Gore.

Interestingly, Pramod Gore is so moved by the story of APJ Abdul Kalam that when he went to visit Kalam’s native place and saw the conditions in which his Tomb is placed, he resolved to give all the revenue he would make out of the film into developing that land. He wants to build a library there too and do his bit in the name of APJ Abdul Kalam.

The biopic goes on the floors in Jul, 2016 and will be releasing in 2017.

Worldwide Films Round Up

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OUTSIDER PICTURES & STRAND RELEASING ACQUIRES THE BRIDE

OUTSIDER PICTURES & STRAND RELEASING ACQUIRES THE BRIDE

Todo Cine Latino, the speciality label of Paul Hudson’s Outsider Pictures, has signed with sales agent Fortissimo for US distribution rights to Paula Ortiz’s La Novia (The Bride), a notable recent Spanish breakout hit, reaping 12 nominations for Jan’s Spanish Academy Goya Awards. Continuing a distribution alliance, Strand Releasing will handle home entertainment & digital rights. Ortiz won acclaim and a Valladolid fest new director nod for her debut, Chrysalis, a 2011 triptych of love stories. The Bride has turned her, however, from a talent to track to a recognized director. Adapting the most famous stage play of Federico García Lorca, a poet who inspired Leonard Cohen to take up songwriting, Blood Wedding turns on a woman promised to one man but who elopes with a former lover on horseback the same day of her wedding, pursued by the bridegroom, egged on by his tyrannical mother. Their disobedience will have devastating consequences.

BREAKING GLASS PICTURES ACQUIRES THE APOSTATE

Philadelphia based Breaking Glass Pictures (BGP) has acquired all North American distribution rights to The Apostate, the critically acclaimed comedy of Uruguayan – Spanish helmer Federico Veiroj. Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff closed the deal with Sandro Fiorin of FiGaFilms after the film’s screening at last month’s Miami International Film Festival. “FiGa Films brings another unique international voice to the US audience,” said Michael Repsch, Breaking Glass SVP of distribution & sales, who has also picked up Geraldine Chaplin toplined drama Sand Dollars from the Miami based distributor in the past. “It’s a privilege to continue our collaboration with Breaking Glass Pictures. They are wonderful partners that will take very good care of The Apostate,” said Fiorin. BGP’s other Spanish language pick ups include Paraguay thriller Seven Boxes and Alex De La Iglesia’s My Big Night. Starting in Sept, 2016, BGP plans a limited theatrical release of the comedy in US & Canada, leading with New York, Los Angeles & Miami, to be followed by a multiplatform rollout, including SVOD and other streaming services.

COLIN’S PLAYGROUND OPTIONS 2 BOOKS

Colin Callender’s production company Playground, whose credits include Hilary Mantel adaptation of Wolf Hall, has optioned 2 books, Fiona Barton’s psychological thriller The Widow & Thomas Grant’s non – fiction account of a lawyer’s life, Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Stories. The deals follow Playground’s recent optioning of Patrick Kingsleys The New Odyssey — The Story Of Europe’s Refugee Crisis, which will be published in May, 2016 The Widow is about the wife of a man who is accused, and eventually cleared, of kidnapping & murdering a child. Throughout this ordeal, the woman, Jean, stands by her man, the ever loyal & supportive wife, seemingly refusing to believe anything the police or press accused him of. But when he suddenly dies, both the law & the media want answers. Surely Jean must know the truth about what happened? Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories is an entertaining & thought provoking biography of a celebrated British lawyer.

POLLY HILL TO JOIN UK COMMERCIAL BROADCASTER ITV

The controller of BBC drama commissioning, Polly Hill, is to join commercial network ITV as head of drama. Her recent credits have included Doctor Foster, War And Peace & The Night Manager. ITV director of television Kevin Lygo also announced Fri that Optomen managing director Sue Murphy will join ITV commissioning as head of factual entertainment, Siobhan Greene will move from ITV Studios to become ITV commissioning team’s head of entertainment & Peter Davey has been promoted as head of comedy entertainment. ITV also announced that Angela Jain is to succeed Greene as managing director of ITV Studios Entertainment & Rosemary Newell, Discovery Networks International senior VP, content & operations, will become ITV’s head of digital channels & acquisitions. Prior to Hill’s present role, she was BBC’s head of independent drama between 2011 & 2015, where she was responsible for The Missing, The Honorable Woman, Ripper Street, Poldark & Wolf Hall. She joined BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and then became a commissioning editor in 2008. Before joining BBC, she was a producer on Cherished by Gwyneth Hughes, which won the Grierson Award. She worked at Channel 4, where she oversaw the 1st series of Teachers, and started her career working for Verity Lambert, before getting her 1st script – editing job on EastEnders.

DANIEL BATTSEK TO LEAD CHANNEL 4’S MOVIE DIVISION FILM4

Daniel Battsek is to be director of Channel 4’s movie division Film4, following the news that David Kosse is to step down to join STX Entertainment. Battsek will join Film4 in Jul, 2016, relocating to UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of Cohen Media Group. Previously, Battsek was president of National Geographic Films, and before that he was president of filmed entertainment at Miramax Films. Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until Oct, 2016. Battsek will inherit Film4’s increased spend of £25 million ($35.2 million) for the year, announced by Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham in Feb, 2016 with the ambition of maintaining similar increased levels of funding in future years. Film4 will continue to seek out partnerships like those announced with Fox Searchlight & FP Films in Feb, 2016 which allow the company to take a greater stake in certain projects.

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE LAUNCHES ITS 1ST THEATRE LAB

US thespians Sandra Oh, Hoon Lee, Deanna Dunagan, their Syrian colleague Hala Omran, & Palestinian playwright Raeda Taha have been tapped as creative advisers participating in the Sundance Institute’s 1st Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Theatre Lab, which will be held in Morocco next month. The lab, which is part of the Sundance Institute’s commitment to support artists from the region, will provide fresh voices from US & MENA with what it calls “a rigorous artistic retreat and new opportunities for cross -cultural discovery, artistic reflection & creative experimentation,” it said in a statement. Under the supervision of Sundance Institute Theatre Program, artistic director Philip Himberg & producing director Christopher Hibma, and led by Middle East & North Africa manager Jumana Al – Yasiri, the institute’s annual Theatre Lab, which is normally held in Utah, will take place on 8th May, 2016 to 29th May, 2016 outside Marrakesh. For over the past 3 decades, the lab has provided critical support & development to productions, including the 2 most recent Tony Award winners for “Best Musical”, Lisa Kron & Jeanine Tesori, who adapted Fun Home.

NEW ARAB MOVIES TACKLE MORE TOPICAL THEMES

Ever since the Arab Spring in 2011 sparked a wave of uprisings that fuelled hopes of transformation & transition from dictatorships to democracy’s, Arab directors have felt compelled to depict the complex changes going on in their nations. Now, some are feeling a greater urgency to take on themes surrounding the Islamic State group & terrorism, while still tackling issues of immigration & stultifying cultural mores. Producers in Paris & Brussels, cities still reeling from recent Muslim extremist attacks, are proving crucial in shepherding films that address pressing Arab topics, as are institutions in the Arab world, such as the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra workshop, which took place 4th Mar, 2016 to 9th Mar, 2016 in Doha. Belgium’s venerable Dardennes brothers served as co – producers for Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia’s timely drama Hedi, a subtle, taboo -breaking love story largely set in Tunisian beach resorts devoid of tourists after the deadly 2015 ISIS attack on a hotel in the resort town of Sousse. Tunisia’s Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, the main producer on Hedi, was among a group of global industryites who attended Qumra. Projects on display there indicate that young Arab directors have social & political themes on their minds, as well as deeper issues pertaining to terrorism. “Quite a few of the projects reflect the world that we live in,” Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman said of the 33 DFI – backed works chosen for pitching & feedback sessions, script consultations & rough cut screenings.

ROOM SWEEPS IRISH FILM & TELEVISION AWARDS

Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, for which lead actress Brie Larson won an Oscar, was the big winner at the Irish Film & Television Academy Awards on Sun. The film, produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures, won 7 awards, including film, director for Abrahamson, and script for Emma Donoghue. Larson won the award for international actress, while its other prizes were for editing, original music & sound. Brooklyn earned awards for lead actress Saoirse Ronan & supporting actress Jane Brennan. Michael Fassbender picked up the award for lead actor for Steve Jobs, and the supporting actor honor went to Jack Reynor for Sing Street. Leonardo DiCaprio was named best international actor for The Revenant, and Spotlight was voted top international film. On the TV drama side, Abú Media’s Irish language series An Klondike won 4 awards, including best drama and actor for Dara Devaney. The supporting actor honor went to Moe Dunford for Vikings, while the supporting actress prize went to Sarah Greene for Penny Dreadful. Stephen Fingleton, the director of feature film The Survivalist, won the Rising Star Award, while the feature documentary trophy went to Ken Wardrop’s Mom & Me. Liam Neeson received the IFTA Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award, recognition for his 3 decades career in cinema.

TVP BOARDS GLOBO’S EPIC SUPERMAX

Pubcaster Television Publica De Argentina (TVP) has boarded Globo’s epic Spanish language production Supermax, to which Argentine film maker Daniel Burman is attached as showrunner, director & co – producer via his shingle Oficina Burman.
TV Azteca has snagged the Mexican TV rights. As a co -producer, TVP has secured Argentine broadcasting rights to the high – end thriller series. Argentina’s minister of media & public content, Hernan Lombardi, joined with Raphael Correa Netto, Globo’s executive director of international business, and with Burman to unveil the new pact. “This co – production is part of a strategic vision aimed at generating high – quality projects for the region by tapping our wealth of human talent & premier locations,” said Lombardi. “It’s a starting point toward spurring our local industries and bringing our audiovisual productions to the global market,” he added.

INSANE LANDS ON TOP & BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE TUMBLES

R – rated local thriller Insane debuted on top of the Korean box office, ousting Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Earning $2.6 million from 355,000 admissions between Thurs & Sun, the picture accounted for 30% of the total weekend box office. Insane recounts the story of a woman taken to a psychiatric hospital against her will in broad daylight. Zootopia remained in 2nd. The Walt Disney animation made $1.59 million between Fri & Sun, extending its total to $26.7 million after 8 weekends. Opening on Thurs, newcomers 10 Cloverfield Lane, Eddie The Eagle & Trumbo landed in 3rd, 4th & 6th places, respectively. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment, Cloverfield earned $1.7 million over 4 days. Eddie The Eagle scored $985,000. Trumbo earned $233,000. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice tumbled to 5th, with a drop of 70%. The superhero movie earned $781,000 between Fri & Sun, for a total of $15.9 million after 3 weekends. Re – released after 2 decades, Before Sunrise opened in 7th. The melodrama earned $157,000 between Thurs & Sun. Opening on the same day, US & Chile co – produced The 33 made $232,500.

ALIVE WINS WILDFLOWER FILM AWARDS

Labor drama Alive was named Grand Prize winner at South Korea’s Wildflower Film Awards on Thur. Park Jung -Bum directed & starred in the tale of a broke laborer’s struggle for survival. Last year’s Cannes entry, Madonna earned Shin Su won the best director prize & Kwon So – Hyun the best new actor prize. E I’ll – Ha earned the best documentary director award for A Crybaby Boxing Club, a portrait of a Korean after school club in Japan. Jung Jae – Young won best actor for Right Now, Wrong Then by veteran Hong Sang – Soo. Singer – actress Lee Jung -Hyun took the best actress award for director Ahn Gooc – Jin’s cruel labor drama, Alice In Earnestland. The Wildflower Awards were launched in 2014 by former Variety correspondent Darcy Paquet, and film critic Oh Dong – Jin, as a grassroots effort to recognise Korean independent & low – budget films.

SCREENX TARGETS HOLLYWOOD & CHINA

China these days is in love with all things culturally Korean, from TV shows to boy bands. Hoping to expand that trend is the cinema technology arm of Korean exhibition firm CJ – CGV, itself a sister company of the powerhouse producer & distributor CJ Entertainment. Having previously launched 4DX, a successful re-invention of the moving seats & environmental effects concept, CJ – CGV is now doing business with
ScreenX immersive technology. Next week it will take the kit to the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas for the 2nd time. There it will be targeting not just North American theaters, but Chinese exhibitors in attendance who are currently opening thousands of new cinemas per year. China’s Wanda Cinema Line has been one of the 1st companies outside Korea to adopt ScreenX and Chinese smash hit Mojin: The Lost Legend, which Wanda co -produced with Huayi Brothers & Enlight Media, was one of the 1st foreign movies to be engineered for the ScreenX experience.

OUTSIDER PICTURES & STRAND RELEASING ACQUIRES THE BRIDE

Todo Cine Latino, the speciality label of Paul Hudson’s Outsider Pictures, has signed with sales agent Fortissimo for US distribution rights to Paula Ortiz’s La Novia (The Bride), a notable recent Spanish breakout hit, reaping 12 nominations for Jan’s Spanish Academy Goya Awards. Continuing a distribution alliance, Strand Releasing will handle home entertainment & digital rights. Ortiz won acclaim and a Valladolid fest new director nod for her debut, Chrysalis, a 2011 triptych of love stories. The Bride has turned her, however, from a talent to track to a recognized director. Adapting the most famous stage play of Federico García Lorca, a poet who inspired Leonard Cohen to take up songwriting, Blood Wedding turns on a woman promised to one man but who elopes with a former lover on horseback the same day of her wedding, pursued by the bridegroom, egged on by his tyrannical mother. Their disobedience will have devastating consequences.

BREAKING GLASS PICTURES ACQUIRES THE APOSTATE

Philadelphia based Breaking Glass Pictures (BGP) has acquired all North American distribution rights to The Apostate, the critically acclaimed comedy of Uruguayan – Spanish helmer Federico Veiroj. Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff closed the deal with Sandro Fiorin of FiGaFilms after the film’s screening at last month’s Miami International Film Festival. “FiGa Films brings another unique international voice to the US audience,” said Michael Repsch, Breaking Glass SVP of distribution & sales, who has also picked up Geraldine Chaplin toplined drama Sand Dollars from the Miami based distributor in the past. “It’s a privilege to continue our collaboration with Breaking Glass Pictures. They are wonderful partners that will take very good care of The Apostate,” said Fiorin. BGP’s other Spanish language pick ups include Paraguay thriller Seven Boxes and Alex De La Iglesia’s My Big Night. Starting in Sept, 2016, BGP plans a limited theatrical release of the comedy in US & Canada, leading with New York, Los Angeles & Miami, to be followed by a multiplatform rollout, including SVOD and other streaming services.

COLIN’S PLAYGROUND OPTIONS 2 BOOKS

Colin Callender’s production company Playground, whose credits include Hilary Mantel adaptation of Wolf Hall, has optioned 2 books, Fiona Barton’s psychological thriller The Widow & Thomas Grant’s non – fiction account of a lawyer’s life, Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Stories. The deals follow Playground’s recent optioning of Patrick Kingsleys The New Odyssey — The Story Of Europe’s Refugee Crisis, which will be published in May, 2016 The Widow is about the wife of a man who is accused, and eventually cleared, of kidnapping & murdering a child. Throughout this ordeal, the woman, Jean, stands by her man, the ever loyal & supportive wife, seemingly refusing to believe anything the police or press accused him of. But when he suddenly dies, both the law & the media want answers. Surely Jean must know the truth about what happened? Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories is an entertaining & thought provoking biography of a celebrated British lawyer.

POLLY HILL TO JOIN UK COMMERCIAL BROADCASTER ITV

The controller of BBC drama commissioning, Polly Hill, is to join commercial network ITV as head of drama. Her recent credits have included Doctor Foster, War And Peace & The Night Manager. ITV director of television Kevin Lygo also announced Fri that Optomen managing director Sue Murphy will join ITV commissioning as head of factual entertainment, Siobhan Greene will move from ITV Studios to become ITV commissioning team’s head of entertainment & Peter Davey has been promoted as head of comedy entertainment. ITV also announced that Angela Jain is to succeed Greene as managing director of ITV Studios Entertainment & Rosemary Newell, Discovery Networks International senior VP, content & operations, will become ITV’s head of digital channels & acquisitions. Prior to Hill’s present role, she was BBC’s head of independent drama between 2011 & 2015, where she was responsible for The Missing, The Honorable Woman, Ripper Street, Poldark & Wolf Hall. She joined BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and then became a commissioning editor in 2008. Before joining BBC, she was a producer on Cherished by Gwyneth Hughes, which won the Grierson Award. She worked at Channel 4, where she oversaw the 1st series of Teachers, and started her career working for Verity Lambert, before getting her 1st script – editing job on EastEnders.

DANIEL BATTSEK TO LEAD CHANNEL 4’S MOVIE DIVISION FILM4

Daniel Battsek is to be director of Channel 4’s movie division Film4, following the news that David Kosse is to step down to join STX Entertainment. Battsek will join Film4 in Jul, 2016, relocating to UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of Cohen Media Group. Previously, Battsek was president of National Geographic Films, and before that he was president of filmed entertainment at Miramax Films. Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until Oct, 2016. Battsek will inherit Film4’s increased spend of £25 million ($35.2 million) for the year, announced by Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham in Feb, 2016 with the ambition of maintaining similar increased levels of funding in future years. Film4 will continue to seek out partnerships like those announced with Fox Searchlight & FP Films in Feb, 2016 which allow the company to take a greater stake in certain projects.

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE LAUNCHES ITS 1ST THEATRE LAB

US thespians Sandra Oh, Hoon Lee, Deanna Dunagan, their Syrian colleague Hala Omran, & Palestinian playwright Raeda Taha have been tapped as creative advisers participating in the Sundance Institute’s 1st Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Theatre Lab, which will be held in Morocco next month. The lab, which is part of the Sundance Institute’s commitment to support artists from the region, will provide fresh voices from US & MENA with what it calls “a rigorous artistic retreat and new opportunities for cross -cultural discovery, artistic reflection & creative experimentation,” it said in a statement. Under the supervision of Sundance Institute Theatre Program, artistic director Philip Himberg & producing director Christopher Hibma, and led by Middle East & North Africa manager Jumana Al – Yasiri, the institute’s annual Theatre Lab, which is normally held in Utah, will take place on 8th May, 2016 to 29th May, 2016 outside Marrakesh. For over the past 3 decades, the lab has provided critical support &  development to productions, including the 2 most recent Tony Award winners for “Best Musical”, Lisa Kron & Jeanine Tesori, who adapted Fun Home.

OUTSIDER PICTURES & STRAND RELEASING ACQUIRES THE BRIDE

Todo Cine Latino, the speciality label of Paul Hudson’s Outsider Pictures, has signed with sales agent Fortissimo for US distribution rights to Paula Ortiz’s La Novia (The Bride), a notable recent Spanish breakout hit, reaping 12 nominations for Jan’s Spanish Academy Goya Awards. Continuing a distribution alliance, Strand Releasing will handle home entertainment & digital rights. Ortiz won acclaim and a Valladolid fest new director nod for her debut, Chrysalis, a 2011 triptych of love stories. The Bride has turned her, however, from a talent to track to a recognized director. Adapting the most famous stage play of Federico García Lorca, a poet who inspired Leonard Cohen to take up songwriting, Blood Wedding turns on a woman promised to one man but who elopes with a former lover on horseback the same day of her wedding, pursued by the bridegroom, egged on by his tyrannical mother. Their disobedience will have devastating consequences.

BREAKING GLASS PICTURES ACQUIRES THE APOSTATE

Philadelphia based Breaking Glass Pictures (BGP) has acquired all North American distribution rights to The Apostate, the critically acclaimed comedy of Uruguayan – Spanish helmer Federico Veiroj. Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff closed the deal with Sandro Fiorin of FiGaFilms after the film’s screening at last month’s Miami International Film Festival. “FiGa Films brings another unique international voice to the US audience,” said Michael Repsch, Breaking Glass SVP of distribution & sales, who has also picked up Geraldine Chaplin toplined drama Sand Dollars from the Miami based distributor in the past. “It’s a privilege to continue our collaboration with Breaking Glass Pictures. They are wonderful partners that will take very good care of The Apostate,” said Fiorin. BGP’s other Spanish language pick ups include Paraguay thriller Seven Boxes and Alex De La Iglesia’s My Big Night. Starting in Sept, 2016, BGP plans a limited theatrical release of the comedy in US & Canada, leading with New York, Los Angeles & Miami, to be followed by a multiplatform rollout, including SVOD and other streaming services.

COLIN’S PLAYGROUND OPTIONS 2 BOOKS

Colin Callender’s production company Playground, whose credits include Hilary Mantel adaptation of Wolf Hall, has optioned 2 books, Fiona Barton’s psychological thriller The Widow & Thomas Grant’s non – fiction account of a lawyer’s life, Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Stories. The deals follow Playground’s recent optioning of Patrick Kingsleys The New Odyssey — The Story Of Europe’s Refugee Crisis, which will be published in May, 2016 The Widow is about the wife of a man who is accused, and eventually cleared, of kidnapping & murdering a child. Throughout this ordeal, the woman, Jean, stands by her man, the ever loyal & supportive wife, seemingly refusing to believe anything the police or press accused him of. But when he suddenly dies, both the law & the media want answers. Surely Jean must know the truth about what happened? Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories is an entertaining & thought provoking biography of a celebrated British lawyer.

POLLY HILL TO JOIN UK COMMERCIAL BROADCASTER ITV

The controller of BBC drama commissioning, Polly Hill, is to join commercial network ITV as head of drama. Her recent credits have included Doctor Foster, War And Peace & The Night Manager. ITV director of television Kevin Lygo also announced Fri that Optomen managing director Sue Murphy will join ITV commissioning as head of factual entertainment, Siobhan Greene will move from ITV Studios to become ITV commissioning team’s head of entertainment & Peter Davey has been promoted as head of comedy entertainment. ITV also announced that Angela Jain is to succeed Greene as managing director of ITV Studios Entertainment & Rosemary Newell, Discovery Networks International senior VP, content & operations, will become ITV’s head of digital channels & acquisitions. Prior to Hill’s present role, she was BBC’s head of independent drama between 2011 & 2015, where she was responsible for The Missing, The Honorable Woman, Ripper Street, Poldark & Wolf Hall. She joined BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and then became a commissioning editor in 2008. Before joining BBC, she was a producer on Cherished by Gwyneth Hughes, which won the Grierson Award. She worked at Channel 4, where she oversaw the 1st series of Teachers, and started her career working for Verity Lambert, before getting her 1st script – editing job on EastEnders.

DANIEL BATTSEK TO LEAD CHANNEL 4’S MOVIE DIVISION FILM4

Daniel Battsek is to be director of Channel 4’s movie division Film4, following the news that David Kosse is to step down to join STX Entertainment. Battsek will join Film4 in Jul, 2016, relocating to UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of Cohen Media Group. Previously, Battsek was president of National Geographic Films, and before that he was president of filmed entertainment at Miramax Films. Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until Oct, 2016. Battsek will inherit Film4’s increased spend of £25 million ($35.2 million) for the year, announced by Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham in Feb, 2016 with the ambition of maintaining similar increased levels of funding in future years. Film4 will continue to seek out partnerships like those announced with Fox Searchlight & FP Films in Feb, 2016 which allow the company to take a greater stake in certain projects.

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE LAUNCHES ITS 1ST THEATRE LAB

US thespians Sandra Oh, Hoon Lee, Deanna Dunagan, their Syrian colleague Hala Omran, & Palestinian playwright Raeda Taha have been tapped as creative advisers participating in the Sundance Institute’s 1st Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Theatre Lab, which will be held in Morocco next month. The lab, which is part of the Sundance Institute’s commitment to support artists from the region, will provide fresh voices from US & MENA with what it calls “a rigorous artistic retreat and new opportunities for cross -cultural discovery, artistic reflection & creative experimentation,” it said in a statement. Under the supervision of Sundance Institute Theatre Program, artistic director Philip Himberg & producing director Christopher Hibma, and led by Middle East & North Africa manager Jumana Al – Yasiri, the institute’s annual Theatre Lab, which is normally held in Utah, will take place on 8th May, 2016 to 29th May, 2016 outside Marrakesh. For over the past 3 decades, the lab has provided critical support &  development to productions, including the 2 most recent Tony Award winners for “Best Musical”, Lisa Kron & Jeanine Tesori, who adapted Fun Home.

NEW ARAB MOVIES TACKLE MORE TOPICAL THEMES

Ever since the Arab Spring in 2011 sparked a wave of uprisings that fuelled hopes of transformation & transition from dictatorships to democracy’s, Arab directors have felt compelled to depict the complex changes going on in their nations. Now, some are feeling a greater urgency to take on themes surrounding the Islamic State group & terrorism, while still tackling issues of immigration & stultifying cultural mores. Producers in Paris & Brussels, cities still reeling from recent Muslim extremist attacks, are proving crucial in shepherding films that address pressing Arab topics, as are institutions in the Arab world, such as the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra workshop, which took place 4th Mar, 2016 to 9th Mar, 2016 in Doha. Belgium’s venerable Dardennes brothers served as co – producers for Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia’s timely drama Hedi, a subtle, taboo -breaking love story largely set in Tunisian beach resorts devoid of tourists after the deadly 2015 ISIS attack on a hotel in the resort town of Sousse. Tunisia’s Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, the main producer on Hedi, was among a group of global industryites who attended Qumra. Projects on display there indicate that young Arab directors have social & political themes on their minds, as well as deeper issues pertaining to terrorism. “Quite a few of the projects reflect the world that we live in,” Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman said of the 33 DFI – backed works chosen for pitching & feedback sessions, script consultations & rough cut screenings.

ROOM SWEEPS IRISH FILM & TELEVISION AWARDS

Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, for which lead actress Brie Larson won an Oscar, was the big winner at the Irish Film & Television Academy Awards on Sun. The film, produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures, won 7 awards, including film, director for Abrahamson, and script for Emma Donoghue. Larson won the award for international actress, while its other prizes were for editing, original music & sound. Brooklyn earned awards for lead actress Saoirse Ronan & supporting actress Jane Brennan. Michael Fassbender picked up the award for lead actor for Steve Jobs, and the supporting actor honor went to Jack Reynor for Sing Street. Leonardo DiCaprio was named best international actor for The Revenant, and Spotlight was voted top international film. On the TV drama side, Abú Media’s Irish language series An Klondike won 4 awards, including best drama and actor for Dara Devaney. The supporting actor honor went to Moe Dunford for Vikings, while the supporting actress prize went to Sarah Greene for Penny Dreadful. Stephen Fingleton, the director of feature film The Survivalist, won the Rising Star Award, while the feature documentary trophy went to Ken Wardrop’s Mom & Me. Liam Neeson received the IFTA Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award, recognition for his 3 decades career in cinema.

TVP BOARDS GLOBO’S EPIC SUPERMAX

Pubcaster Television Publica De Argentina (TVP) has boarded Globo’s epic Spanish language production Supermax, to which Argentine film maker Daniel Burman is attached as showrunner, director & co – producer via his shingle Oficina Burman.
TV Azteca has snagged the Mexican TV rights. As a co -producer, TVP has secured Argentine broadcasting rights to the high – end thriller series. Argentina’s minister of media & public content, Hernan Lombardi, joined with Raphael Correa Netto, Globo’s executive director of international business, and with Burman to unveil the new pact. “This co – production is part of a strategic vision aimed at generating high – quality projects for the region by tapping our wealth of human talent & premier locations,” said Lombardi. “It’s a starting point toward spurring our local industries and bringing our audiovisual productions to the global market,” he added.

INSANE LANDS ON TOP & BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE TUMBLES

R – rated local thriller Insane debuted on top of the Korean box office, ousting Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Earning $2.6 million from 355,000 admissions between Thurs & Sun, the picture accounted for 30% of the total weekend box office. Insane recounts the story of a woman taken to a psychiatric hospital against her will in broad daylight. Zootopia remained in 2nd. The Walt Disney animation made $1.59 million between Fri & Sun, extending its total to $26.7 million after 8 weekends. Opening on Thurs, newcomers 10 Cloverfield Lane, Eddie The Eagle & Trumbo landed in 3rd, 4th & 6th places, respectively. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment, Cloverfield earned $1.7 million over 4 days. Eddie The Eagle scored $985,000. Trumbo earned $233,000. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice tumbled to 5th, with a drop of 70%. The superhero movie earned $781,000 between Fri & Sun, for a total of $15.9 million after 3 weekends. Re – released after 2 decades, Before Sunrise opened in 7th. The melodrama earned $157,000 between Thurs & Sun. Opening on the same day, US & Chile co – produced The 33 made $232,500.

ALIVE WINS WILDFLOWER FILM AWARDS

Labor drama Alive was named Grand Prize winner at South Korea’s Wildflower Film Awards on Thur. Park Jung -Bum directed & starred in the tale of a broke laborer’s struggle for survival. Last year’s Cannes entry, Madonna earned Shin Su won the best director prize & Kwon So – Hyun the best new actor prize. E I’ll – Ha earned the best documentary director award for A Crybaby Boxing Club, a portrait of a Korean after school club in Japan. Jung Jae – Young won best actor for Right Now, Wrong Then by veteran Hong Sang – Soo. Singer – actress Lee Jung -Hyun took the best actress award for director Ahn Gooc – Jin’s cruel labor drama, Alice In Earnestland. The Wildflower Awards were launched in 2014 by former Variety correspondent Darcy Paquet, and film critic Oh Dong – Jin, as a grassroots effort to recognise Korean independent & low – budget films.

SCREENX TARGETS HOLLYWOOD & CHINA

China these days is in love with all things culturally Korean, from TV shows to boy bands. Hoping to expand that trend is the cinema technology arm of Korean exhibition firm CJ – CGV, itself a sister company of the powerhouse producer & distributor CJ Entertainment. Having previously launched 4DX, a successful re-invention of the moving seats & environmental effects concept, CJ – CGV is now doing business with
ScreenX immersive technology. Next week it will take the kit to the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas for the 2nd time. There it will be targeting not just North American theaters, but Chinese exhibitors in attendance who are currently opening thousands of new cinemas per year. China’s Wanda Cinema Line has been one of the 1st companies outside Korea to adopt ScreenX and Chinese smash hit Mojin: The Lost Legend, which Wanda co -produced with Huayi Brothers & Enlight Media, was one of the 1st foreign movies to be engineered for the ScreenX experience.

LONDON HAS FALLEN OPENS ON TOP

New release, London Has Fallen landed on the top of the Chinese Box Office in what was a quiet weekend at the movies. Released on Fri, the disaster action film topped the charts on each day of the session and finished with $24.0 million after 3 days. Amongst the recent Chinese releases, Chongqing Hotpot was the strongest through the weekend. In 2nd throughout the weekend, it added $11.0 million to claim $48.0 million after 10 days. With a strong Sat & Sun following a quiet Fri, Zootopia added $6.20 million in 3 days. Its run has been extended by Chinese regulators and after 38 days it has amassed a cumulative of $232 million. It is now the 2nd biggest score of the year, only behind The Mermaid. Chinese action picture, The Bodyguard slipped from 1st place to 4th. It earned $6.20 million over the weekend, for a 10 day cumulative of $45.3 million. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice lost a further 78% and slipped from 4th to 5th place as it scored $2.81 million. After 17 days the picture has amassed $94 million. Chinese film, Who Sleeps My Bro earned $2.23 million. After 10 days it has a cumulative of $17.8 million. The Revenant played on, adding $530,000, nudging its cumulative to $57.9 million after 24 days.

BRETT RATNER – DANIS  TANOVIC – YOJIRO TAKITA JOIN BEJING FESTIVAL JURY

Brett Ratner, a regular visitor to China, is heading the jury at the Beijing International Film Festival which got underway from 6th Apr, 2016 to 23rd Apr, 2016 in the Chinese capital. The films in the competition section will compete for up to 10 Tiantan Awards. The festival is playing 433 movies from 42 territories, and 15 will be in competition. The other jurors include Hong Kong director Teddy Chan, German’s Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, Romania’s Corneliu Porumboiu, Japanese director Yojiro Takita, European director Danis Tanovic & Chinese actress Xu Qing, who recently starred in hit Mr. Six. Ratner is currently riding high in China with The Revenant which his RatPac Entertainment co – produced. He was also recently in Hong Kong & China as producer of one of the films on the inaugural slate of Flagship Entertainment, the joint venture between Warner Bros., China Media Capital & TVB.
Ever since the Arab Spring
in 2011 sparked a wave of uprisings that fuelled hopes of transformation & transition from dictatorships to democracy’s, Arab directors have felt compelled to depict the complex changes going on in their nations. Now, some are feeling a greater urgency to take on themes surrounding the
Islamic State group & terrorism, while still tackling issues of immigration & stultifying cultural mores. Producers in Paris & Brussels, cities still reeling from recent Muslim extremist attacks, are proving crucial in shepherding films that address pressing Arab topics, as are institutions in the Arab world, such as the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra workshop, which took place 4th Mar, 2016 to 9th Mar, 2016 in Doha. Belgium’s venerable Dardennes brothers served as co – producers for Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia’s timely drama Hedi, a subtle, taboo -breaking love story largely set in Tunisian beach resorts devoid of tourists after the deadly 2015 ISIS attack on a hotel in the resort town of Sousse. Tunisia’s Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, the main producer on Hedi, was among a group of global industryites who attended Qumra. Projects on display there indicate that young Arab directors have social & political themes on their minds, as well as deeper issues pertaining to terrorism. “Quite a few of the projects reflect the world that we live in,” Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman said of the 33 DFI – backed works chosen for pitching & feedback sessions, script consultations & rough cut screenings.

ROOM SWEEPS IRISH FILM & TELEVISION AWARDS

Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, for which lead actress Brie Larson won an Oscar, was the big winner at the Irish Film & Television Academy Awards on Sun. The film, produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures, won 7 awards, including film, director for Abrahamson, and script for Emma Donoghue. Larson won the award for international actress, while its other prizes were for editing, original music & sound. Brooklyn earned awards for lead actress Saoirse Ronan & supporting actress Jane Brennan. Michael Fassbender picked up the award for lead actor for Steve Jobs, and the supporting actor honor went to Jack Reynor for Sing Street. Leonardo DiCaprio was named best international actor for The Revenant, and Spotlight was voted top international film. On the TV drama side, Abú Media’s Irish language series An Klondike won 4 awards, including best drama and actor for Dara Devaney. The supporting actor honor went to Moe Dunford for Vikings, while the supporting actress prize went to Sarah Greene for Penny Dreadful. Stephen Fingleton, the director of feature film The Survivalist, won the Rising Star Award, while the feature documentary trophy went to Ken Wardrop’s Mom & Me. Liam Neeson received the IFTA Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award, recognition for his 3 decades career in cinema.

TVP BOARDS GLOBO’S EPIC SUPERMAX

Pubcaster Television Publica De Argentina (TVP) has boarded Globo’s epic Spanish language production Supermax, to which Argentine film maker Daniel Burman is attached as showrunner, director & co – producer via his shingle Oficina Burman.
TV Azteca has snagged the Mexican TV rights. As a co -producer, TVP has secured Argentine broadcasting rights to the high – end thriller series. Argentina’s minister of media & public content, Hernan Lombardi, joined with Raphael Correa Netto, Globo’s executive
director of international business, and with Burman to unveil the new pact. “This co – production is part of a strategic vision aimed at generating high – quality projects for the region by tapping our wealth of human talent & premier locations,” said Lombardi. “It’s a starting point toward spurring our local industries and bringing our audiovisual productions to the global market,” he added.

INSANE LANDS ON TOP & BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE TUMBLES

R – rated local thriller Insane debuted on top of the Korean box office, ousting Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Earning $2.6 million from 355,000 admissions between Thurs & Sun, the picture accounted for 30% of the total weekend box office. Insane recounts the story of a woman taken to a psychiatric hospital against her will in broad daylight. Zootopia remained in 2nd. The Walt Disney animation made $1.59 million between Fri & Sun, extending its total to $26.7 million after 8 weekends. Opening on Thurs, newcomers 10 Cloverfield Lane, Eddie The Eagle & Trumbo landed in 3rd, 4th & 6th places, respectively. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment, Cloverfield earned $1.7 million over 4 days. Eddie The Eagle scored $985,000. Trumbo earned $233,000. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice tumbled to 5th, with a drop of 70%. The superhero movie earned $781,000 between Fri & Sun, for a total of $15.9 million after 3 weekends. Re – released after 2 decades, Before Sunrise opened in 7th. The melodrama earned $157,000 between Thurs & Sun. Opening on the same day, US & Chile co – produced The 33 made $232,500.

ALIVE WINS WILDFLOWER FILM AWARDS

Labor drama Alive was named Grand Prize winner at South Korea’s Wildflower Film Awards on Thur. Park Jung -Bum directed & starred in the tale of a broke laborer’s struggle for survival. Last year’s Cannes entry, Madonna earned Shin Su won the best director prize & Kwon So – Hyun the best new actor prize. E I’ll – Ha earned the best documentary director award for A Crybaby Boxing Club, a portrait of a Korean after school club in Japan. Jung Jae – Young won best actor for Right Now, Wrong Then by veteran Hong Sang – Soo. Singer – actress Lee Jung -Hyun took the best actress award for director Ahn Gooc – Jin’s cruel labor drama, Alice In Earnestland. The Wildflower Awards were launched in 2014 by former Variety correspondent Darcy Paquet, and film critic Oh Dong – Jin, as a grassroots effort to recognise Korean independent & low – budget films.

SCREENX TARGETS HOLLYWOOD & CHINA

China these days is in love with all things culturally Korean, from TV shows to boy bands. Hoping to expand that trend is the cinema technology arm of Korean exhibition firm CJ – CGV, itself a sister company of the powerhouse producer & distributor CJ Entertainment. Having previously launched 4DX, a successful re-invention of the moving seats & environmental effects concept, CJ – CGV is now doing business with
ScreenX immersive technology. Next week it will take the kit to the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas for the 2nd time. There it will be targeting not just North American theaters, but Chinese exhibitors in attendance who are currently opening thousands of new cinemas per year. China’s Wanda Cinema Line has been one of the 1st companies outside Korea to adopt ScreenX and Chinese smash hit Mojin: The Lost Legend, which Wanda co -produced with Huayi Brothers & Enlight Media, was one of the 1st foreign movies to be engineered for the ScreenX experience.

LONDON HAS FALLEN OPENS ON TOP

New release, London Has Fallen landed on the top of the Chinese Box Office in what was a quiet weekend at the movies. Released on Fri, the disaster action film topped the charts on each day of the session and finished with $24.0 million after 3 days. Amongst the recent Chinese releases, Chongqing Hotpot was the strongest through the weekend. In 2nd throughout the weekend, it added $11.0 million to claim $48.0 million after 10 days. With a strong Sat & Sun following a quiet Fri, Zootopia added $6.20 million in 3 days. Its run has been extended by Chinese regulators and after 38 days it has amassed a cumulative of $232 million. It is now the 2nd biggest score of the year, only behind The Mermaid. Chinese action picture, The Bodyguard slipped from 1st place to 4th. It earned $6.20 million over the weekend, for a 10 day cumulative of $45.3 million. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice lost a further 78% and slipped from 4th to 5th place as it scored $2.81 million. After 17 days the picture has amassed $94 million. Chinese film, Who Sleeps My Bro earned $2.23 million. After 10 days it has a cumulative of $17.8 million. The Revenant played on, adding $530,000, nudging its cumulative to $57.9 million after 24 days.

BRETT RATNER – DANIS  TANOVIC – YOJIRO TAKITA JOIN BEJING FESTIVAL JURY

Brett Ratner, a regular visitor to China, is heading the jury at the Beijing International Film Festival which got underway from 6th Apr, 2016 to 23rd Apr, 2016 in the Chinese capital. The films in the competition section will compete for up to 10 Tiantan Awards. The festival is playing 433 movies from 42 territories, and 15 will be in competition. The other jurors include Hong Kong director Teddy Chan, German’s Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, Romania’s Corneliu Porumboiu, Japanese director Yojiro Takita, European director Danis Tanovic & Chinese actress Xu Qing, who recently starred in hit Mr. Six. Ratner is currently riding high in China with The Revenant which his RatPac Entertainment co – produced. He was also recently in Hong Kong & China as producer of one of the films on the inaugural slate of Flagship Entertainment, the joint venture between Warner Bros., China Media Capital & TVB.

New release, London Has Fallen landed on the top of the Chinese Box Office in what was a quiet weekend at the movies. Released on Fri, the disaster action film topped the charts on each day of the session and finished with $24.0 million after 3 days. Amongst the recent Chinese releases, Chongqing Hotpot was the strongest through the weekend. In 2nd throughout the weekend, it added $11.0 million to claim $48.0 million after 10 days. With a strong Sat & Sun following a quiet Fri, Zootopia added $6.20 million in 3 days. Its run has been extended by Chinese regulators and after 38 days it has amassed a cumulative of $232 million. It is now the 2nd biggest score of the year, only behind The Mermaid. Chinese action picture, The Bodyguard slipped from 1st place to 4th. It earned $6.20 million over the weekend, for a 10 day cumulative of $45.3 million. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice lost a further 78% and slipped from 4th to 5th place as it scored $2.81 million. After 17 days the picture has amassed $94 million. Chinese film, Who Sleeps My Bro earned $2.23 million. After 10 days it has a cumulative of $17.8 million. The Revenant played on, adding $530,000, nudging its cumulative to $57.9 million after 24 days.

BRETT RATNER – DANIS TANOVIC – YOJIRO TAKITA JOIN BEJING FESTIVAL JURY

Brett Ratner, a regular visitor to China, is heading the jury at the Beijing International Film Festival which got underway from 6th Apr, 2016 to 23rd Apr, 2016 in the Chinese capital. The films in the competition section will compete for up to 10 Tiantan Awards. The festival is playing 433 movies from 42 territories, and 15 will be in competition. The other jurors include Hong Kong director Teddy Chan, German’s Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, Romania’s Corneliu Porumboiu, Japanese director Yojiro Takita, European director Danis Tanovic & Chinese actress Xu Qing, who recently starred in hit Mr. Six. Ratner is currently riding high in China with The Revenant which his RatPac Entertainment co – produced. He was also recently in Hong Kong & China as producer of one of the films on the inaugural slate of Flagship Entertainment, the joint venture between Warner Bros., China Media Capital & TVB.

Bihar government orders arrest of JD-U legislator Manorama Devi

by

Manorama Devi mla

Patna: A day after Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Manorma Devi was suspended by the party, the Bihar government issued an arrest warrant against her following the recovery of liquor bottles from her residence in Gaya town, police said on Wednesday.

Manorma Devi’s son Rocky Yadav, who was arrested on Tuesday from a house in Bodh Gaya for murdering a teenager, was later sent to 14-day’s judicial custody by a Gaya court, police said.

“The state government has issued an arrest warrant against Manorma Devi and sealed a room of her residence where some liquor bottles were seized during a police raid on Monday night during a search for her son,” a district police officer in Gaya said.

Meanwhile, Manorma Devi has gone underground after the arrest warrant was issued against her.

Principal Secretary of Registration and Excise Department, K.K.Pathak said the legislator would soon be arrested.

“Legal action as per the new excise law was taken against her following recovery of liquor bottles from the residence,” he said.

According to excise official Vikash Singh, six bottles of liquor were recovered.

Gaya senior Superintendent of Police Garima Malik said that Rocky had confessed to the fatal shooting of businessman’s son Aditya Sachdeva on Saturday night for overtaking his car on the Bodh Gaya-Gaya road.

Police have also seized the pistol used in the crime, she said. The licence for the pistol was issued in Delhi.

Malik said a separate case will be filed on charge of violation of the liquor ban in Bihar.

With Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserting that no guilty will be spared, police promised to file a charge sheet within a month.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Sunil Kumar said: “Police have been working to complete investigations in the case within three weeks. The charge sheet will be filed within a month to ensure speedy trial.”

Aditya’s family has demanded a speedy trial to ensure justice.

(IANS)

Democracy won in Uttarakhand, its a lesson for Modi: Rahul Gandhi

by

Rahul-Gandhi

New Delhi: BJP did its worst but democracy won in Uttarakhand, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said today, hoping that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “learn” his lesson that people of India will not tolerate “murder” of democracy.

Rahul’s strong reaction came as Congress is set to return to power in the state one-and-half months after President’s rule was imposed.

Earlier, the Centre told the Supreme that there is no doubt that Harish Rawat has proved majority on the floor of the Assembly, following which the court said he will assume office as Chief Minister after President’s rule is revoked.

“They (BJP) did their worst. We did our best. Democracy won in Uttarakhand!,” Rahul tweeted.

He said people and institutions built by the founding fathers of the country will not tolerate “murder of democracy”.

“Hope Modiji learns his lesson-people of this country and the institutions built by our founding fathers will not tolerate the murder of democracy!,” he said.

The Supreme Court allowed the Centre to revoke President’s rule.

It said Rawat got 33 votes out of 61 in the floor test yesterday.

(Agencies)

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