Germany and France are planning to launch a $376,000 (Euros 300,000) co-development fund from next year as part of their existing bilateral mini co-production agreement.

The news was announced at this year’s Franco-German Film Rendez-Vous in Hamburg. 300 German and French producers, distributors and film funders attended the three-day annual event which alternates between France and Germany.

Christine Berg of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) explained that the fund should promote the “cultural and economical potential for the German and French market.”

Individual funding will be awarded up to $63,000 (Euros 50,000) and the fund would be open to a producer’s first or second feature film.

Also speaking at the event, Olivier Wotling of France’s CNC suggested that the initiative would benefit new producers and enable them to build up a network. “It is very important that one can start very early with cooperation. This dimension must be supported,” Wotling said.

The new fund would be part of the “mini-traité” agreement which was signed by the CNC and Germany’s German Federal Film Board (FFA) in May 2001 and has supported 50 Franco-German co-productions.

These include Tom Tykwer’s Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, Werner Schroeter’s Deux, Claire Denis’ 35 Rhums, and Julie Delpy’s The Countess.

It was revealed that in 2007 Germany became the second most important co-production partner for France after Belgium.

Germany participated in 10 French majority co-productions compared to 18 by Belgian companies. In 2006, Germany had been third place with involvement in six French productions behind Italy (nine) and Belgium (11).

Berg reported that a third of the 30 international co-productions supported by the DFFF so far this year are German-French co-productions with total production costs of $158m (Euros 126m), compared to $100m (Euros 80m) for the 12 German-French co-productions in 2007.

Source: Screen Daily, Martin Blaney

Pinewood has completed a deal with Christie Digital to upgrade its digital projection equipment across its facilities, with the ability to project HD pictures through DLP projectors in the Powell, Pressberger and Icon Theatres at Pinewood and in Theatres 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Shepperton.

Christie is the preeminent manufacturer producer of digital cinema projectors in the world, with more projectors in cinemas in Europe and the USA than any of its competitors. As a result of this long term strategic upgrade, the Pinewood Group will be able to offer consistency of the highest quality projectors (and therefore pictures) across all its facilities. Through their relationship with Christie, Pinewood has the opportunity to build on its expertise in film projection within its prestigious Theatre 7 preview facility and become experts in the art of digital projection.

Fastweb, Italy’s second-largest fixed telecommunications provider, is launching Warner TV, an exciting new entertainment channel from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD). The non-exclusive new Warner TV channel is a branded subscription video on-demand channel that will be available to FastwebTV subscribers from the 8th September. This is WBITD’s first launch of its Warner TV branded service in Italy.FastwebTV subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of award-winning Warner Bros. television series, movies and cartoons including:

· Many episodes on-demand per year of the world’s most popular TV series including ER, The O.C., Friends, Nip/Tuck, La Femme Nikita, Smallville, Cold Case and classic series such as V (The Visitors) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
· Kids’ entertainment with cartoon features such as Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost and Tom & Jerry: The Magic Ring, as well as cartoon series such as Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain and Batman: The Animated Series.
· 150 Warner Bros. movies across all genres, including The Matrix Reloaded and all-time favourites such as Mad Max, The Goonies, The Shining, Poltergeist and many others included in the FastwebTV package free-of-charge.

“We are so excited to be launching the Warner TV on-demand channel,” said Alessandro Petazzi, Fastweb’s Head of Media & TV. “Since the launch of its IPTV service, Fastweb has been committed to providing customers with fresh and compelling content on an on-demand basis and has signed many agreements with the main local and international content providers. The addition of Warner Bros. content further enriches our portfolio and the launch of a Warner TV branded and managed on-demand channel is in-line with Fastweb’s most recent strategy of blending the benefits of video on demand (”what you want when you want”) with the advantages of traditional channels (editorially managed content, fresh and relevant to specific customer targets, associated with a familiar content brand).”

“Our partnership with Fastweb expands upon our international branded services business and marks the debut of our first such service in Italy,” said Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television. “Warner TV will offer motion picture and television programming that Italian viewers will have the ability to access through Fastweb, providing consumers with the opportunity to view great content from Warner Bros. wherever and whenever they want it.”

The launch of Warner TV on Fastweb in Italy continues WBITD’s strategic expansion into subscription- and advertiser-supported video-on-demand branded services around the world. WBITD has previously launched Warner TV VOD channels with Top Up TV, Tiscali, Virgin Media and BT in the U.K., ProSieben in Germany, USEN Corporation’s GyaO in Japan and Free TV in France, with an additional service planned for later in 2008 in India.

Fastweb was the first company in the world to launch IPTV.FastwebTV viewers have the widest choice of content integrated in a single interactive interface thanks to its hybrid multiplatform digital decoder. Fastweb television allows its viewers to access digital terrestrial TV services, analogue national channels, network-based PVR and catch-up TV, thematic channels from both satellite and analogue platforms, Sky satellite channels, a PPV offer, VoD of thousands of movies, cartoons, documentaries, TV series and music clips, videogames and unique edutainment channels.

Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 ýfeatures and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 ýlanguages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) announced on Sept 17th  that its joint venture with China Film Group called Huaso Film/Television Digital Production Company Limited (Huaso) has launched a 24-episode one hour drama series called The Game on China’s state broadcaster CCTV8 on September 22, 2008 at 7:30pm. It’s the first television drama series produced by Huaso following the television movies it has produced for CCTV.

Based on the best-selling novel The Lunatic by Liu Ping, The Game is a suspense-filled series written by Ren Yun in a rare collaboration with script consultants from Hollywood and China. With guidance from Award-winning Chinese writer Li Xiao Ming (A Native of Beijing in New York, Half-way Couple) and Hollywood veteran Gerald Sanoff (Matlock, Diagnosis Murder), Ren Yun crafted a series about love, intrigue, betrayal and the remarkable resiliency of the human spirit. In addition to the unique writing collaboration, the production team was made up of seasoned executives from CCTV and SPTI.

“It has been a remarkable experience working with the team at Huaso and our partner at China Film Group to bring this project to the small screen. By combining top-notch talent from the East and West, I believe we’ve managed to create a very original series with new elements of story-telling for the Chinese audience. We hope the unique story along with the fantastic cast will lead to an auspicious debut on CCTV8,” said Mary Chan, SPTI’s vice president, production, Asia.

The Game is directed by Hong Kong’s Yuen Ying Ming, who has directed numerous highly-acclaimed drama series in Greater China over the past 20 years. Yuen’s celebrated works include The Greed of Man, Looking Back in Anger on TVB; The Legend of Da Qi Hero and The Best Tea House in China.

China International Television Corporation (CITVC), the global distribution agent of programs owned by CCTV, will be distributing The Game within China while SPTI will be distributing the series outside of China both in its original form and as a scripted format.

Synopsis of The Game

The Game is a story about the remarkable resiliency of the human spirit. Zuo Zhao Fung and Zhai Ren Wei are good friends and business colleagues who appear to be as close as brothers. Although they have known each other for years, Zuo Zhao Feng is unaware that Zhai Ren Wei has been carefully planning the systematic demise of Zuo Zhao Feng, Zuo’s father and the company they built. Zhai, however, underestimates Zuo’s determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. With the love and support of Lu Xiao Jie, a former colleague at his father’s company, Zuo is able to start a new company and put his life in order again. The Game’s strong cast includes Yu Xiao Wei (Handsome Men, Pretty Women, So Want to Love), Huang Jue (Everlasting Regret, Love Heaven, I Love You and So Long Farewell), Luo Hai Qiong (So Want to Love, Like Rain and Wind) and Fu Xin Yin (Rain Season In Bangkok, Jade Buddha, Begins With Love).

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE’s feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital content delivery outlets around the world, 2) local television production in key international markets, and 3) international television networks. In addition to being a leader in the distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced television in local languages. With dedicated offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI’s worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE’s long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 50 networks in more than 130 countries reaching almost 400 million households worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Huaso Film and Television Digital Production Company Limited (Huaso)

Huaso is a joint-venture company formed by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Hua Long Film Digital Production Co. Ltd., of China Film Group (CFG). This production joint-venture has been approved by the People’s Republic of China’s regulatory bodies - the State Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Huaso is an acronym combining “Hua Long” with “Sony,” with CFG holding a majority interest. Currently Huaso has a number of Chinese-language projects in development, including light entertainment and sitcom properties, drama series and TV movies, for distribution within and outside the PRC.

Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion, the local German production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), is commencing pre-production on the comedy Friendship. Deborah Schindler, President of Sony Pictures International Motion Picture Production Group announced that the studio is producing the feature with leading German producers Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann, producers of the Academy Award® winning feature, The Lives Of Others and Barefoot films’ Til Schweiger and Tom Zickler, producers of the box office hit Rabbit Without Ears. Friendship will be directed by the prolific commercial director, Markus Goller (Under The Mask). The screenplay is by Oliver Ziegenbalg (U 900, 1 1/2 Ritter). Matthais Schweighöfer, considered one of the most promising young talents in European film, will play the lead role of Kai.

Deborah Schindler stated: “By supporting a tremendously talented emerging new director and an exciting young cast and teaming them with accomplished, award-winning producers, Friendship represents the kind of movie we want to support as part of our local language portfolio. This is a compelling story about a unique time in German history with a global theme of re-uniting a family and we couldn’t be more excited about how this project has come together.”

Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann added: “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Sony by partnering with Deborah Schindler and the talented creative team on Friendship. With the addition of Sony’s global marketing and distribution expertise, our goal of continuing to bring exciting and unique new stories and showcasing emerging German talent to a wider audience can be fulfilled.”

Friendship is a buddy comedy set in East Germany in 1989 on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall. When the Wall comes down, Kai (22) is determined to find his father, who escaped from the GDR twelve years before. Since the only communication with him has been an annual birthday card from San Francisco, Kai and his best friend, Alex fly to the U.S. on a quest to locate Kai’s dad. Barely speaking English and with only $55 dollars in their pocket, this road trip takes a very interesting turn. Friendship is a culture-clash comedy underscored by an emotional story about friendship.

Production for Sony Pictures International Motion Picture Group will be overseen locally by Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion’s Vice President of Production Maike Haas, who was hired by the company earlier this year and reports directly to Schindler and General Manager, Martin Bachman of Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH, who will oversee the initial release in Germany.

Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion is the European headquarters of SPE’s local production group. In addition to Germany, Sony Pictures International Motion Picture Production Group is currently in active production on local features for SPE in East-Asia, India, Russia, the U.K., and Mexico. The company led the way on international local productions in East-Asia including Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle, as well as European productions including Snatch (UK) and Di Que Si (SPAIN). Most recently SPRI released Stephen Chow’s CJ7 and Sony’s first local Indian production Saawariya (Beloved), in addition to the Mexican local hit feature Niñas Mal.

Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion, Sony Pictures International Motion Picture Production Group, Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) and Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (CTMPG), are Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) companies. SPE is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries.

Paramount Pictures International’s Kung Fu Panda has become the highest-grossing animation ever in mainland China, raking in $14.6m (RMB100m) in ten days.The film is also the first animated feature film that has grossed over RMB100m, which is generally seen as a benchmark for blockbuster films in China.

Previously, the best-selling animation film in China was Garfield 2 in 2006, which grossed $7.25m (RMB58m). And the second biggest was The Lion King in 1995 with $5.13m (RMB41m).

Kung Fu Panda was released in mainland China on June 20 with 530 prints including digital screens and IMAX screens. In Sichuan province, the screening was delayed for one day due to protests over the film using Chinese elements such as Kung Fu and giant Pandas, which originate in Sichuan. However, the box office performance was not affected by the delay.

Compared to North America and other international markets, animation films have not been big sellers in mainland China. Analysts believe that it’s because the majority of Chinese families have not developed the habit of watching animated films as a family activity. In the past four years, most animation films have grossed no more than $5.8m, no matter how big the films have been in the rest of the world.

Pixar’s 2003 international hit Finding Nemo grossed $4.35m (RMB34.8m); last year, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grossed $5.02m (RMB37m); Ratatouille took in only $2.85m (RMB21m), and Shrek 3 was only released in digital cinemas, where it took $1.49m (RMB11m).

Animation is also becoming more popular within China’s production sector. Last year, Disney-China Film co-production The Secret Of The Magic Gourd grossed $2.75m (RMB20.65m). And this year so far, there have been three local animations released in China. Calabash Brothers, which took in $1.17m (RMB8m), is the top local animation film so far.

Top animation films in mainland China market:

1. Kung Fu Panda – $15.01m

2. Garfield 2 – $7.25m

3. The Lion King – $5.13m

4. TMNT – $5.02m

5. Ice Age 2 – $ 4.44m

6. Finding Nemo – $4.35m

7. Toy Story – 3.92m

8. Cars – $2.86m

9. Ratatouille – $2.85m

10. Secret Of The Magic Gourd – $2.75m

Source: ScreenDaily

Pinewood, together with Codex Digital, The Production Guild of Great Britain, Sohonet and Molinare, presents a free industry seminar ‘Production 2.0’ to demonstrate the benefits of digital workflow within the production environment on Wednesday 2 July 2008.

Highlighting the new and exciting opportunities that now arise with production and post production environments seamlessly merging on-set, the seminar will discuss the impact of permanently changing the creation process for motion pictures, broadcast programmes and commercials due to the removal of traditional linear production constraints.

Pinewood Studios will be linked to leading Soho-based post production facility Molinare for ‘Production 2.0’, providing a live demonstration of how both production and post-production processes can run in parallel for the first time, delivering significant gains in speed, cost, efficiency and flexibility for digital film and broadcast productions.

With a high resolution Codex recording system at the hub of the workflow, Production 2.0 will demonstrate the ease with which high resolution rushes can be captured and reviewed on set, securely and immediately transferred via Sohonet network for editing, colour grading and visual effects and then delivered directly to the producer’s desktop or director’s hand-held PDA. This new streamlined process enables immediate and informed decisions, profoundly improving both the quality and efficiency of a production. Codex Digital has recently supplied its 2K and 4K media systems for the shooting of big and low budget productions. Their recent clients include the Wachowski brothers upcoming feature ‘Speed Racer’, Bond’s latest instalment ‘Quantum of Solace’, US independent film ‘Dead Girl’ and US-based commercials for the Lincoln MKS car, the Apple iPhone and Little Tykes.

As the industry migrates to complete digital cinematography, the seminar will also examine secure management of digital data throughout the entire production lifecycle.

Pinewood’s Group Director of Technology Darren Woolfson comments “I am particularly excited about this initiative as it places Pinewood at the heart of the new digital production environment.”

Production 2.0 takes place at 3pm on Wednesday 2 July 2008 at Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. Admission free – to register please visit www.productiontwozero.com.

This summer is gearing up to take on a decidedly French feel in the UK.

Unifrance, France’s film export body, reports that at least 10 French films will have their British debut in the coming weeks supported by a strong presence of French talent.

On June 13, Priceless , starring Audrey Tautou and directed by Pierre Salvadori, will be released by Icon followed one week later by Elle S’Appelle Sandrine , the feature directorial debut of Sandrine Bonnaire, which ICA will release and The Secret Of The Grain , Abdellatif Kechiche’s sleeper hit which swept the Cesars earlier this year. Artificial Eye is releasing.

On June 27, Jean-Paul Salome’s Female Agents starring Sophie Marceau and Deborah Francois will debut from Revolver which handled Guillaume Canet’s Tell No One on the same date last year.

Virginie Ledoyen, Vincent Lindon, Pascal Elbe, Bernadette Lafont, Dominique Farrugia and Lorraine Levy will support London Mon Amour which releases on July 4 from Pathe UK while Cedric Klapisch will be in town for the release of his film Paris on July 25 which is being handled by Optimum.

In August, Olivier Assayas’ Summer Hours debuts from Artificial Eye as does Francois Ozon’s Angel starring Romola Garai and Lucy Russel. The latter is handled by Lionsgate.

Lionsgate is also releasing I’ve Loved You So Long from director Philippe Claudel and starring Kristin Scott Thomas on September 26. Other films including Luc Jacquet’s The Fox And The Child are also due for a summer UK release.

French films have had healthy results in the UK over the past several years and currently boast a 2% market share with an estimated 3 million tickets sold in 2007. The figures are the best ever attained by French films in Britain where they have traditionally barely reached a 1% market share.

Last year, Luc Besson’s Arthur And The Minimoys took in 1.2 million admissions while La Vie En Rose scored 325,000 and Tell No One took in 245,000. Other successes in 2007 included Julie Delpy’s 2 Days In Paris , Michel Gondry’s The Science Of Sleep , Patrice Leconte’s My Best Friend , Laurent Tirard’s Moliere , Xavier Giannoli’s Quand J’Etais Chanteur and Pascale Ferran’s Lady Chatterley .

Source: ScreenDaily

Warner Bros. Pictures India enters into the animation genre with an untitled film directed by Jyotin Goel and produced by Geol Screencraft.”This is a story of love and adventure, full of color, music, drama and comedy,” says Jyotin Goel. “The film is not based on the human kingdom but portrays the melodious world of birds and attempts to explore their lives from an unusual standpoint. It is a journey into the lives of birds as they soar over dense jungles and teeming cities, giving them a point of view of the world that is hilariously different from ours.”

Speaking on this occasion Blaise Fernandes, Country Manager, Warner Bros. Pictures India says, “We are delighted to associate with Jyotin on this film. It marks our entry into the animation genre in India.”

This film will be produced by Geol Screencraft; post production will be handled by Interactive Realities International Private Limited (IRIPL).

About the Director: Jyotin Goel:
Jyothin Goel is associated with two filmmaking firms – as the proprietor of Goel Screen craft and as a partner in Goel Cine Corporation. A highly regarded filmmaker, Jyotin Goel has personally produced five Hindi feature films and directed three, including hits like Zahreelay and Inaam Dus Hazar. He has also written and directed a science-fiction-based Television show, Antariksh (2007), which won the Sansui and Indian Television Academy awards for visual effects. Mr. Goel has been regularly elected to the Executive Committees of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (the largest film producers’ organization in India) and the Film Makers Combine, the apex body of two film producers’ associations. He has been a member of the Indian Film Industry’s panel for the selection of its official feature film entry for the Oscars.

About Warner Bros. Pictures:
Warner Bros. Pictures is one of the most successful motion picture studios in the world and has been entertaining global audiences for over 85 years with high-quality, innovative, acclaimed motion pictures. With some 30 offices around the world, Warner Bros. Pictures is also the leader in the distribution and marketing of feature films to the worldwide theatrical marketplace, releasing films to more than 120 territories. Warner Bros. Pictures is home to such recent world-renowned hit films as the Harry Potter films, 300 and I Am Legend.

About Geol Screencraft:
Geol Screecraft was established by Jyotin Goel in 1985 as an independent offshoot of its parent company, Goel Cine Corporation, one of the oldest feature film production companies in India. Together, the two companies have produced 24 feature films, including classics like Ek Phool Do Mali(1969), Dus Lakh (1966) and Aadmi Sadak Ka(1977). The Goel film library is one of the most prized collections in India with films that regularly feature on television movie channels all over the world.

About Interactive Realities International Private Limited
IRIPL was established in 1994, and is one of the leading players in Multimedia Production, Internet Applications, e Learning and Web Solutions in India, with a client list of global corporations that includes Yahoo, Adobe and Kodak.

Housing workshops and open plan offices for film and TV productions located at the Studios, the top floor of this 60,000 sq foot building will be available for longer term occupation from companies within the media sector who will benefit from basing all or part of their operation at Shepperton.

The completion of the building is a major step in the first phase of Shepperton’s Masterplan, a joint venture with Morley to further develop the Studio’s facilities.

Currently in production at Shepperton is Universal Pictures and Working Title Films latest feature The Boat That Rocked directed by Richard Curtis and new BBC sitcom Beautiful People starring Meera Syal and Olivia Colman. The Studios recently played host to the TV series Gladiators currently broadcasting on Sky One as well as independent film Moon, a debut feature from award-winning commercials director Duncan Jones starring Sam Rockwell.

Says Pinewood Group’s CEO Ivan Dunleavy “Shepperton’s Gainsborough building will provide a new focal point for the UK’s creative industry, hosting world class film and TV production teams together with leading media specialists. We’re delighted the Culture Minister is attending to mark the occasion.”

Margaret Hodge commented “Outstanding productions need the best possible facilities, and this important new base for media companies will help ensure that Shepperton Studios continues to make a vital and sustained contribution to the success of our film, TV and commercial sectors.”