BAFTA East Coast,Variety International News

Abu Dhabi's Mubadala backs Raine

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 08:00 AM
International News: Government-owned company takes 9% stake -- Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, has underscored its ambition to become a major showbiz player by acquiring a 9% stake in U.S. boutique merchant bank The Raine Group, the company said on Thursday. Read more...

Flicker Alley nabs ' Inferno' in U.S.

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 07:49 AM
International News: Docu on Clouzot film sells widely abroad -- Rolling off its Cesar nod for best docu, "Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno" has been picked up by U.S. company Flicker Alley for all rights distribution. Read more...

Linklater, Potter join Babelgum jury

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 07:17 AM
International News: Sundberg, Watson, Wishnow also on panel -- Richard Linklater and Sally Potter are among high-profile helmers recruited for jury duty by the Babelgum Online Film Festival dedicated to professionally produced short films, held in tandem this year with indie filmmakers network Shooting People. Read more...

CNC sets policy for digital screens

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 06:55 AM
International News: Plan allows for total conversion in France -- France's government-backed Centre National du Cinema film board has established the major guidelines for the digital conversion of Gaul's cinema theaters. Read more...

Pink Floyd wins EMI court fight

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 06:45 AM
International News: Label judged wrong for allowing iTunes sales -- The financiers at indebted EMI Group are facing yet another blow as a High Court judge in London ponders the level of fine the label should pay after breaking the terms of its contract with veteran act Pink Floyd. Read more...

Japanese vid software sales fall 4.2%

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 06:30 AM
International News: Second half of 2009 saw slight growth -- Japanese video software sales fell 4.2% year-on to $3.04 billion in 2009, according to a report issued by the Japan Video Software Association (JVA) on Wednesday. This is the fifth straight year of decline for the biz since hitting its peak of $4.17 billion in 2004. Read more...

Disney greenlights south India pic

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 06:13 AM
International News: Telugu-language pic stars Siddharth -- Disney has greenlit its first film targeted at audiences in southern India. Read more...

RTL profits hold steady in 2009

Thu, Mar 11, 2010 05:29 AM
International News: Revenue drops 6.3% to $7.4 billion -- RTL Group topper Gerhard Zeiler said on Thursday rigorous cost-cutting and an unexpected year-end rally helped the pan-European broadcasting giant to record a steady net profit last year of Euros 298 million ($407 million). Read more...

These 10 have a rendez-vous with stardom

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 07:34 PM
International News: Breakout French talent takes the next step -- Age doesn't matter to these 10, a mix of fresh faces and veteran pros with rising profiles. Read more...

Rendez-Vous With French Cinema challenges

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 06:12 PM
International News: Unifrance hopes to excite U.S. buyers with latest films -- As the foreign arthouse market continues to shrink abroad, the Unifrance-sponsored Rendez-Vous With French Cinema in New York is strengthening its role as a launchpad for French pics' distribution in the U.S. Read more...

Dramas of the Rendez-Vous festival

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 05:57 PM
International News: Lineup mixes arthouse films with big budget fare -- This year's Rendez-Vous lineup reveals two recurring trends of contemporary French cinema: intimate, character-based dramas that have been the mark of Gallic films for decades, and bigger, more commercial-minded genre fare aimed at international markets. Read more...

Oil gives way to film in Middle East

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 05:18 PM
International News: Entertainment steady for new generation of investors -- When Qatari media shingle Alnoor launched a $200 million film fund last October, it became the latest of a growing number of Middle East-based players looking to enter the film biz. Read more...

Dubai on hold

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 05:08 PM
International News: Many projects put on hold until financial stability returns. -- While the likes of Qatar and Abu Dhabi have been relatively sheltered from the recent global economic crisis thanks in some part to their gas and oil wealth, respectively, neighboring Dubai has been much harder hit. Read more...

Godard classic to be featured at COLCOA

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 04:10 PM
International News: 'Pierrot le Fou' to premier at L.A.'s festival of French films -- A restored version Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 classic "Pierrot le Fou" will have its international premiere at L.A.'s 14th annual City of Lights, City of Angels festival of French films, running April 19-25 at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex. Read more...

Cantinflas biopic in the works

Wed, Mar 10, 2010 04:02 PM
International News: Mexican icon introduced to American auds in '80 Days' -- A biopic on Mexican icon Cantinflas is underway with Argentine scribe/helmer Gabriela Tagliavini tapped to write the screenplay, based on a story by pic's helmer Alejandro Gomez Monteverde (Bella). Read more...