UK FILM COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW TAX RELIEF SYSTEM FOR BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY
UK FILM COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW TAX RELIEF SYSTEM FOR BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY
New film tax relief system will make the UK an extremely attractive place to make films supporting a consistent flow of British films to audiences worldwide
The UK Film Council today welcomed the Government's new tax relief system for the British film industry which will help to consolidate its position as the most important film industry in the world after the US.
In today's Budget report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the Pre-Budget announcement of a new tax relief system replacing Section 42 and Section 48 from 1 st April.
The new tax relief system will mean:
- on low budget films (with production budgets up to £20 million), the tax credit level will be 20%;
- on higher budget films (with production budgets of £20 million and above), the tax credit level will be 16%;
- the level of tax credit applies to the expenditure within the UK in order to be EU State Aid compliant;
- the lowering of the minimum UK expenditure threshold from the proposed 40% to 25% allowing more films to qualify for tax relief.
The new tax relief system will provide a solid base for the production of independent British films such as Vera Drake, Pride and Prejudice and Mrs Henderson Presents and internationally, puts the UK in pole position for continuing to attract big budget US studio films such as The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Miss Potter and Stardust all of which have been produced or in production in the UK.
John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council said: "Today's announcement by the Chancellor is good news for the British Film Industry and makes the UK an attractive place to make films. It provides the certainty the industry needs to operate and will help the UK consolidate its position as the most important film industry in the world after the US.
"The lowering of the minimum UK expenditure threshold from the proposed 40% to 25% is great news as more films will be in a position to qualify for tax relief.
"Audiences in the UK and abroad love British films, and today's announcement will help to support a consistent flow of British films for the enjoyment of all."
In 2005 thanks to home grown films such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit , Pride and Prejudice and Valiant audiences boosted the share of British films at the UK box office to 34%, compared to 23% in 2004, the highest figure in 10 years.
TALENT CIRCLE SUPER SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2006 - call for submissions
The UK's largest admission free touring short film festival will take place over five days in London from 17 July to 21 July 2006, followed by a tour to major UK cities in the autumn.
VISIT THE FESTIVAL WEB SITE FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS: www.supershorts.org.uk
"Talent Circle 's impressive festival of shorts rolls into town for five days with a whopping 375 short films on show." Time Out, London (commenting on the 2005 festival)
RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL OPENS FOR SUBMISSIONS - deadline 1st July
Festival dates have been set for 27 September to 8 October, and Raindance are taking submissions from now until July 1st.
Whether you have a short, a feature, a music video, a documentary or a kids film, we'll happily consider it - to find the submission form, along with the rules and regulations, please click below.
www.raindancefilmfestival.org/festival/submissions/index.htm
ONEDOTZERO_10 SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED - deadline now 17th March
We have extended the deadline to Friday 17 march to ensure that onedotzero's tenth festival is the best yet, and is reflective of the most innovative talent in moving image today.
The tenth annual festival, taking place at the ICA, London, 2nd to 11th June 2006, is the first stop in onedotzero's global network of festivals. Onedotzero tours across the UK, Europe, the Baltics, the Americas and Australasia, and reached over 60 cities in 2005.
The festival is committed to providing a home for visionary moving image experimentation, so that both established and emerging talent can thrive side by side, and remain accessible to all. Onedotzero_10 is open for submissions of original moving image work for the following programming areas:
- wow + flutter: experimental explorarions in motion graphics. preference will be placed on new work created for, or premiering at the festival.
- wavelength: music videos. innovative work from the most adventurous music promo directors around.
- extended_play: narrative shorts
- j-star: innovative japanese short-form work rarely seen outside of japan
- documentaries: radical short and feature-length original documentaries.
- fashion: highlighting fashion's collision with the fields of graphic design, illustration, and new forms of moving image
- environment: films dealing with architecture, rural, and urban environments.
Deadline for submissions: 17:00hrs Friday 17 March 2006
www.onedotzero.com
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING COMPETITION LAUNCHED BY CHANNEL 4, ITN & BRITDOC - deadline 7th April
Emerging filmmakers to pitch ideas using inspiration from ITN archives; winning films screened on Channel 4 and at new documentary film festival Britdoc 2006
Channel 4, ITN and BRITDOC have teamed up to create a new documentary competition for emerging filmmakers, with winning entries broadcast on Channel 4 and screened at the inaugural Britdoc 2006 documentary festival.
ITN is offering free use of its archive, which contains over 700,000 hours of footage dating back from 1896 to the present day. Entrants should prepare a pitch for a 3 minute documentary on the theme The Bicycle, using inspiration from the archives. The four best ideas will be commissioned by Channel 4 and broadcast in its 3 Minute Wonder slot. The filmmakers will also be invited as guests to the first BRITDOC festival (July 26-28th) where the films will be screened.
Click here for full details or visit www.britdoc.org
THE EMERGEANDSEE CUP 2006 - deadline extended to 15th April
Just before kick-off of the FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2006 in Germany, EMERGEANDSEE presents a football-shortfilm competition on the big screen as part of the EMERGEANDSEE Brlin festival in May.
The organisers are looking for crazy thrilling dark funny spory short films about football which will compete for the EMERGEANDSEE SHORT CUP!
Competition is open to all students and young filmmakers under 30. Films may be up to 90 seconds long.
www.emergeandsee.org
THE DA VINCI CODE OPENS CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2006
The adaptation of Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code will open this year's Cannes Film Festival. The film will be presented Out of Competition. Top billing goes to Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno with London among the star sets of both the novel and film.
www.festival-cannes.fr/
LONDON FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Rachel Weisz are among the big name stars nominated for the 26th Awards of the London Film Critics' Circle to be held in aid of the NSPCC on 8 February 2006. This prestigious awards ceremony will be hosted by broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and Critics' Circle Film Section chairman John Marriott at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
ANT AND DEC'S NEW FILM ALIEN AUTOPSY
First glimpse at Ant and Dec's Alien Autopsy can be found here. The film which shot in and around London and at Ealing Studios was written by Shameless scripter Johnny Campbell. It follows two friends who make a spoof documentary which they claim is footage of a secret autopsy on an extra�terrestrial.
BAFTA NOMINATION
Richard Hawkins dropped out of the film industry to make his own film his own way. His no budget directorial debut has won him a BAFTA nomination for first-time film-makers. Shot for just £47,000, Everything will go up against with Joe Wright for Pride and Prejudice. BAFTA winners will be announced on Sunday 19 February.
RESERVOIR DOGS CHRIS PENN DIES
Chris Penn, younger brother of Oscar winner Sean Penn, who played supporting roles in films such as Reservoir Dogs and Starsky & Hutch, was sadly found dead in his Santa Monica home, authorities said. Police do not suspect foul play.
Chris Penn's latest film, The Darwin Awards, also starring Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder and David Arquette, was scheduled to premiere Wednesday at the Sundance Film Festival.
A family spokeswoman confirmed the death and said "The Penn family would appreciate the media's respect of their privacy during this difficult time."
In one of his best known roles, he played baby-faced criminal Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in director Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. He also starred along with his brother in the 1986 film At Close Range. Recently, Penn voiced Officer Eddie Pulaski in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS
The 18th European Film Awards took take place in East Berlin last weekend and included 19 categories. Cache (Hidden) and Sophie Scholl dominated the winners whilst Sean Connery received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his career spanning more than 50 years. "I am very honoured" the 75 year old actor said.
Frenchman Daniel Auteuil, won best actor for his performance in Cache, while Austria 's Haneke took the prize for best director for the same film � a French-Austrian-German-Italian co-production. Haneke, who also won the directing prize at Cannes in May, beat out strong contenders for best film, including Cannes Palme D'or festival winner The Child.
Germany's Julia Jentsch was named best actress for Sophie Scholl and Good Night, and Good Luck, directed and co-written by Hollywood star George Clooney, who also co-stars in the film, was named best non-European film.
The best screenplay award was taken by Hany Abu-Assad and Bero Beyer for Paradise Now, a film providing an insight into what drives Palestinian suicide bombers.
THE WINNERS OF THE EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS 2005:
EUROPEAN FILM 2005
CACHÉ (Hidden), France/Austria/Germany/Italy
Directed by Michael Haneke
Produced by Les Films du Losange, Wega Film, Bavaria Film, BIM Distribuzione
EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2005
Michael Haneke for CACHÉ (Hidden), France/Austria/Germany/Italy
EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2005
Julia Jentsch in SOPHIE SCHOLL, DIE LETZTEN TAGE (Sophie Scholl, the Final Days), Germany
EUROPEAN ACTOR 2005
Daniel Auteuil in CACHÉ (Hidden), France/Austria/Germany/Italy
EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2005
Hany Abu-Assad & Bero Beyer for PARADISE NOW, Netherlands/Israel/Germany/France
EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER 2005
Franz Lustig for DON'T COME KNOCKING, Germany
EUROPEAN COMPOSER 2005
Rupert Gregson-Williams & Andrea Guerra for HOTEL RWANDA, UK/South Africa /Italy
EUROPEAN EDITOR 2005
Michael Hudecek & Nadine Muse for CACHÉ (Hidden), France/Austria/Germany/Italy
EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER 2005
Aline Bonetto for UN LONG DIMANCHE DE FIANÇAILLES (A Very Long Engagement), France
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sir Sean Connery, UK
EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA 2005
Maurice Jarre, France
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY DISCOVERY 2005 - Prix Fassbinder
ANKLAGET (Accused), by Jakob Thuesen, Denmark
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY CRITICS AWARD 2005 - Prix Fipresci
CACHÉ (Hidden) by Michael Haneke, France/Austria/Germany/Italy
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY DOCUMENTARY 2005 - Prix ARTE
UN DRAGON DANS LES EAUX PURES DU CAUCASE (The Pipeline Next Door), by Nino Kirtadzé, France
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY SHORT FILM 2005 - Prix UIP
UNDRESSING MY MOTHER by Ken Wardrop, Ireland
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY NON-EUROPEAN FILM 2005 - Prix Screen International
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, by George Clooney, USA
THE JAMESON PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2005
for Best European Director
Marc Rothemund for SOPHIE SCHOLL - THE FINAL DAYS
for Best European Actor
Orlando Bloom in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
for Best European Actress
Julia Jentsch in SOPHIE SCHOLL - THE FINAL DAYS
20TH LONDON LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL - Wednesday 29th March to Wednesday 12th April 2006
CALL FOR ENTRIES - Submission deadline 16th December
The London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (LLGFF), now approaching its 20th year, is currently the third largest film festival in the UK, after London and Edinburgh.
The LLGFF is now accepting entries for 2006. General information on the festival and details on how to submit your film can be found on there website.
www.llgff.org.uk | 020 7815 1323 | [email protected]
BIRDS EYE VIEW - Call For Entries deadline 6th January 2006
Birds Eye View celebrates thebest of the UK's emerging women filmmakers. As part of the festival, a Gala screening will be held on International Women'd Day (March 8th) at the NFT, with a programme of approximately six varied and brilliant shorts - a mix of styles and genres.
Women directors who wish to submit their work for consideration for this screening can find submissions forms, guidelines and further details online.
www.birds-eye-view.co.uk | [email protected]
NARNIA SALES SOAR ON AMAZON.CO.UK IN ANTICIPATION OF THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Sales of products relating to The Chronicles of Narnia are experiencing massive sales surges on Amazon.co.uk in the run-up to the release of the film adaptation of the popular book series.
Film-goers appear to be reading up on CS Lewis' stories as they prepare to head to the cinema. The full-length Chronicles of Narnia Box Set has seen a 630% jump in sales in the past month, while single books in the series such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe are also selling well, with a surge of 190%.
In response to this remarkable demand, Amazon.co.uk has launched a dedicated Narnia store where fans can buy Narnia products across all categories and watch the film's trailer.
It's not just the books that are doing well. Top Trumps - Chronicles of Narnia , a surprise hit card game, has seen its sales surge by nearly 900%, as fans attempt to jog their memories with the names and faces of the book's characters.
The TV series is also performing well, with sales of The Chronicles of Narnia 4-DVD box set rising by 200%.
"The forthcoming Chronicles of Narnia movie has sparked a wave of interest in all things Narnia-related ," says Rakhi Parekh of Amazon.co.uk . "We've been seeing huge sales surges of both the books themselves and other Narnia-related products on site, like DVDs and games as people try to refresh their memories about the characters and plots of the stories before they head to the cinema!"
www.amazon.co.uk
UK FILM COUNCIL 2006 COMPLETION FUND LAUNCHES � deadline for entries 2nd December 2005
Today sees the launch of this year's UK Film Council Completion Fund. We are now accepting submissions of films shot to rough cut stage, that require funds for completion. This is not a print fund. The deadline for entries is Friday, December 2nd 2005
[email protected] | www.mayavisionint.com
30 SECOND FILM COMPETITIONS � Deadline 1st December 2005
Could you turn a public information message into a compelling 30 second short film? Then you could reach a live audience with your work on LCD screens and websites run by local government agencies nationwide. You could also win a high definition camcorder and a paid commission to make more films, to be presented at Channel 4's Ideasfactory. That's the brief for the CCN 30 Second Films Competition, sponsored by BT.
Prize winning event: December 15th 2005
www.intomedia.org.uk/CCNComp
THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ON THE UK FILM IDUSTRY - Annual Industry Report
On 29th Sept 2005 the Metropolitan Film School officially launched the first of its annual Film Reports: 'The Impact of Digital Technologies on the UK Film Industry'.
Revealing both perceived advantages as well as serious misgivings related to the digital (r)evolution the Met Film School thus puts the spotlight on imminent changes for UK filmmakers and consumers.
The launch event saw a panel of representatives of each industry sector discussing the report's findings, which makes the Met one of a number of organisations setting tomorrow's agenda of the digital future of cinema today (see www.metfilmschool.co.uk for details on Metropolitan Film School. For related events see
www.screendaily.com/digital and www.digimart.org).
The team of researchers carried out approximately 100 telephone interviews across all sectors, including filmmakers, producers, distributors, cinemas & exhibition spaces, as well as official industry bodies; the result is an up to date view of the UK Film Industry from all view points.
Topics covered include:
- Consumer power
- New genres
- The effect on cinema
- Diversity of content
- Distribution costs
- Piracy
- Marketing
- Education
At the launch event the Met Report sparked a flurry of debate between the press, attendees and the panel, which was made up of industry specialists. You can judge for yourself what the current school of thought is by reading the full report here.
SCREEN ACADEMIES FOR UK FILM INDUSTRY
Skillset has launched a new network of centres of excellence in film education and skills. The brand new network of seven Screen Academies in England, Scotland, and Wales will share over £5m funding and will work together to provide new courses, including the first ever film MBA, summer schools, work placements, master classes, bursaries, online learning resources and a talent scout programme to help develop the brightest and the best.
The Screen Academy Network, which includes a Film Business Academy, is endorsed by the UK film industry as providing the best education and skills development for the future workforce at a further, higher and postgraduate level.
www.skillset.org/academies
INNOVATIVE LOW BUDGET FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION SCHEME LAUNCHES
Innovative low budget feature film production scheme launches to nurture creative filmmaking in the UK - UK Film Council and FilmFour venture invest £6 million in emerging writers, directors and producers, putting low budget filmmaking at its core.
The UK Film Council and FilmFour are investing £3 million each over three years to launch the Low Budget Film Scheme, in a unique initiative to generate and sustain a low budget film industry in the UK for the first time.
This scheme marks the biggest single financial boost to low budget filmmaking in this country, aiming to create a mini-studio model that will allow filmmakers with fresh, exciting ideas to get their films into production and distributed to an audience with speed and support.
www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/news/
CAUGHT SHORT FOCUS
The short filmmaking scheme for Yorkshire and Humber 's emerging talent is now open for applications.
This exciting opportunity gives up to 33 people the chance to create and shoot a short film over a five-day period in January 2006 culminating in a screening at the end of the week. We welcome applications from writers, directors and producers both individually and in any combination of these three roles.
[email protected]
SHORT FILM COMPETITION - 15th January 2006
Don't forget the 7th Peter Kittel Short Film Competition!
Open to all aged under 19 on 15th January 2006, the closing date. Any topic or on the theme "Peer Group Pressure" or "It began as just another ordinary morning, but then..." Almost any format, prizes up to £50 for under 16's, up to £75 for 16 to under 19, Peter Kittel Trophy for the most original entry overall, some free memberships of IAC the Film and Video Institute. Organised by Harrow Cine & Video Society, sponsors include the IAC, HCVS, and Global Cameras Harrow. Full details and entry form by emailng:
[email protected] | 020 8863 7628
HOLLYWOOD ASSOCIATION FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL INSTALLATION LUNCH
For the second year in a row, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is donating more than $1,000,000 in financial grants to film schools and non-profit organizations. These awards were announced during the Association's Annual Installation Luncheon honoring its 2005-2006 slate of officers at the Beverly Hills Hotel today.
Over the past 11 years, the HFPA has given more than $5,500,000 in financial grants. Acceptance remarks were made by Brad Pitt on behalf of the Film Foundation Inc., Sally Field on behalf of the Sundance Institute (for international filmmakers), Ziyi Zhang on behalf of FilmAid International, America Ferrera on behalf of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and Kevin Bacon on behalf of Film Independent [FIND],
"Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association always look forward to our annual summer luncheon," said Berk. "Not only do we celebrate the installation of the organization's new officers and board members, we take pride in donating over $1,000,000 in charitable contributions to many outstanding film-related charities and educational institutions. We are fortunate that the success of the Golden Globes allows us to do so."
ANIMATED FILMS IN THE RUNNING FOR OSCAR'S
Valiant, the flagship film from Ealing Studio's new CGI production unit, and Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride, an enchanting stop motion animation made at London's 3 Mills Studios, are both in the running for best animnated feature at the Oscars 2006. Final nominations are announced 31st January.
FILMS IN PRODUCTION
Mel Gibson plans Mayan Epic
Hollywood big shot Mel Gibson is financing a new film to be set in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The film will be based on Gibson's own screenplay and will also direct (not not star) in it.
Dirty Sanchez: The Movie
Pathe Pictures, MTV Films Europe and Vertigo Films are proud to announce that start of production for full length feature film Dirty Sanchez The Movie, adapted from the highly popular and very controversial MTV UK series of the same name, and set of release Autumn 2006.
The Devil has heard about the reputation the Dirty Sanchez boys are carving out for themselves as the bad ass's of the small screen. He's rounded them up to check out their credentials and set them the ultimate challenge, Seven Deadly Sins.
The Chronicles of Narnia continue ...
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, being pre-production on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the next big screen instalment of the Narnia chronicles, with Academy Award nominated director Andrew Adamson set to return.
The film will reunite most of the principal cast and creative team responsible for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The With and the Wardrobe. Production is set to begin later this year for a Christmas 2007 release.
Prince Caspian finds the Pevensie siblings pulled back into the land of Narnia, where a thousand years have passed since they left, to combat an evil villain who prevents the rightful Prince from ruling the land. Prince Caspian was first published in 1951, and is the second book in the seven book series written by Lewis.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
With Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in cinemas, production of the next film in the blockbuster franchise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has already geared up at Leavesden Studios and around London, with award winning British filmmaker David Yates (The Girl In The Cafe, Sex Traffif, State of Play) directing.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as close-knit teen wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Joining the stllar cast are Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as Dalores Umbridge.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released in 2007.
The sixth James Bond unveiled
Ending more than a year of speculation, actor Daniel Craig has been unveiled this week as the sixth James Bond on a Royal Marine speedboat on the Thames. Casino Royale will start shooting next year.
Shooting has begun in and around London on Stephen Frears' The Queen.
Dame Helen Mirren plays Her Majesty in the film set in the week following the crash which killed Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed.
Shane Meadows This Is England starts shooting
Dead Man's Shoes director Shane Meadows has started shooting his fifth feature This is England , a darkly comic rites of passage set in the summer of 1983, when Britain's disenchanted youth took to the streets of working class towns across the nation. Meadows moves the action from his traditional setting of the Midlands (Twentyfourseven, A Room for Romeo Brass, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands) to the north of England, to tell the story of 11-year-old Shaun and his progression from a shaggy haired ruffian grieving the loss of his father to a shaven headed thug whose anger and pain are embraced by the local skinhead fraternity. Shooting on location in Nottingham and Grimsby, This is England stars newcomer Thomas Turgoose in the role of Shaun, plus Stephen Graham (Gangs of New York), Jo Hartley (Dead Man's Shoes), Joe Gilgun ('Coronation Street'), Andrew Shim (A Room for Romeo Brass, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands) and Vicky McClure (A Room for Romeo Brass ).
Marlon Brando is yet again to be Jor-El in the new Superman movie
While The Usual Suspects helmer Bryan Singer is busily filming Superman Returns in Australia, he has announced another last minute addition to the cast: the late Marlon Brando. Brando will once again play Jor-El, Superman's father � thanks to vintage footage obtained from the Richard Donner directed 1978 film. Singer has previously worked with Donner's wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, on the X-Men films. Singer said he has purchased all of the original 1978 archival footage and plans to use it in the new movie. How much footage will be used remains unknown but reports that Singer is recreating the feel, look and tone of the original seem to be true.
Superman Returns stars newcomer Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth (Beyond the Sea, Blue Crush), James Marsden (X2: X-Men United, The Notebook), Frank Langella (HBO's Unscripted), Academy Award-winner Eva Marie Saint (North By Northwest), Parker Posey (Best in Show), Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Sam Huntington (Detroit Rock City) and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey (Beyond the Sea, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects).
Crowe, Kidman and Luhrmann to create an Australian Gone With The Wind
Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, who were stymied earlier this year in an attempt to make all-Australian picture Eucalyptus are poised to try again with a period epic that Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo And Juliet) will direct later this year. Former offers haven't been made but both actors are being wooed heavily by the filmmaker, who is collaborating with Stuart Beattie (Collateral scribe and fellow Aussie) on a romance being called an Oz Gone With The Wind.
Lord Of The Rings Peter Jackson named most powerful persin in Hollywood
Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has been named the most powerful person in Hollywood. Premier magazine's latest issue says the 43 year old New Zealand born director is one of the few 'one man band productions that are changing the grid of the power structure' in tinseltown. Steven Spielberg is at No. 2 while Steve Jobs and John Lasseter, heads of Pixar, fell from last year's No. 1 spot to third.
NATIONAL LOTTERY CASH TURNS YOUNG SPECTATORS INTO CREATORS
Celebrities and leading figures from the UK film industry present mini Oscars®
The next generation of the UK 's movie talent was on show during a star-studded ceremony this week at the Odeon West End in London 's Leicester Square . The First Light Film Awards were presented to young filmmakers from across the UK by celebrities and leading figures from the film industry. First Light is the UK Film Council's young filmmaking initiative that distributes National Lottery money to film projects across the country. The young filmmakers that produce the films are aged from 7 to 18 years old.
Among those presenting today was award winning director Anthony Minghella CBE (Cold Mountain and The English Patient); Harry Potter Weasley twins James and Oliver Phelps; comedians Jenny Éclair and Paul Kaye; young star Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy and the soon to be released The Weatherman starring Nicolas Cage); Thomas Sangster (Love Actually and Nanny McPhee); BAFTA-winning writer/director Amma Asante (A Way of Life); actor James Purefoy (A Knight's Tale); filmmakers Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) and Gurinder Chadha (Bride and Prejudice); and producer Duncan Kenworthy (Love Actually).
Judges this year included new James Bond Daniel Craig ; broadcast legend Sir David Attenborough and Martin Freeman from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The ceremony was attended by more than 200 young people as well as celebrities, film industry executives and Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, James Purnell MP .
Minister James Purnell said : "First Light helps young people grow from being spectators to creators. They learn the tricks of the trade, both in front of and behind the camera and develop their confidence and imagination. And they produce great films, as today's winners demonstrate. But perhaps most importantly, this scheme is developing tomorrow's talent. This is vital if we are to realise the full potential of our film industry."
First Light Chief Executive Pip Eldridge said : "This year's awards were a fantastic tribute to the talent and imagination that young people bring to the world of film. These digital shorts are a wonderful example of how National Lottery money can make a difference to young people's lives and help them produce work of excellent quality."
UK Film Council Chair Stewart Till CBE added : "First Light gives children and young people a unique opportunity to channel their creativity into making films. The UK Film Council is incredibly proud of this project which is now in its fifth year and the benefits it has brought to thousands of youngsters across the UK from all backgrounds.
This year also saw a Special Projects Award for films that were made during First Light's Big Screen Science Project. The films all tackled controversial scientific issues including genetic research and face transplantation.
The winning films are:
Best Animation
The Enchanted Gourd - East Riding School Improvement Service, Beverley
The Enchanted Gourd takes its inspiration from traditional African folk tales and explores issues of good versus evil and consequences and decisions. First Light awarded a grant of around £6,000 to the group of 20 9-10-yer-olds. Contact Tel: David Mell 07908 782462
Best Horror
Come Play - Calling the Shots, Bristol
A girl in her new house begins to notice some mysterious goings on. The film was produced by ten young people aged between 13 and 15 with a First Light grant of just under £4,000. Contact Tel: Steve Gear 07968 764753
Best Thriller
Ice House - Cre8 Studios, Swindon
Would you save your school bully from a fate worse than death? First Light awarded this film produced by twelve 14-year-old girls £6,500. Contact Tel: Shahina Johnson 07918 153016 / 07734 975282
Best Documentary
Babes - All Change Arts, London
A documentary produced by 11 young parents aged between 15 and 18-year-olds in which they talk about the challenges of being young mums and dads. The short film was made with £6,500 of First Light funding. Contact Tel: Suzanne Lee 07958 963345
Best Comedy
A Right Mayor - Intuition PPIMS, London
A young boy wakes up one day to find himself installed as Mayor of London. The film was shot with a First Light grant of £4,000 and produced by eight 14-16-year-olds. Contact Tel: Barbara Quartey 07961 113771
A young footballer dreams of becoming the next Wayne Rooney but his Dad has other ideas. The film was produced five 15-16-year-old boys with just under £4,000 by of First Light funding. Contact Tel: Steve Brown 07799 076165
This film looks at the broken relationship between a girl and her alcoholic father. It was produced by a group of 100 17-year-olds with just under £3,000 of First Light funding. Contact Tel: Gregor Dewar 07974 780328
Special Projects Award: Big Screen Science
An innovative filmmaking and science project, Big Screen Science, is a scheme by First Light, made with support from the Wellcome Trust. Pupils and teachers from schools around the country have made animations, dramas and reality TV show style films about a range of challenging ethical issues in the field of biomedical science.
The Law of Averages - Barrhead High School , Glasgow
The film explores organ transplants through the experience of one ordinary family. The drama was made by a group of 14-15 year old students from Barrhead's science club. Contact Tel: May McCallum 07843 737947
Best Film made by 12s and Under
No Joy - Showroom Cinema, Sheffield
Live action and animation are used to tell a story about the dangers of street racing and how two brothers can affect each other. Over thirty young filmmakers aged ten and 11-years-old produced the film with a First Light grant of around £6,000. Contact Tel: Yvonne McLoughlin 07979 853584
Best Film made by 13s and Over
Walking and Talking - 104 Films, Birmingham
The tale of an awkward blind date produced with around £6,000 of First Light funding. Three filmmakers aged 17-18 years old produced the film. Contact Tel: Jamie Nicol 07811 188964
NEW TV CHANNEL EAT CINEMA DISHES OUT A FEAST OF WHOLESOME MOVIE NEWS FOR CINEMA GOERS FROM TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
Eat Cinema, a tasty new TV channel dedicated to the big screen and the cinema-going experience, launches on Sky Digital (channel 199) on 28 th February, providing movie-goers with their fill of movie news, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
With the mass of good films currently playing at the cinema and with Oscar fever in the air, Eat Cinema offers the guidance people are looking for on which film to 'invest' in when going to the cinema.
With a varied menu of programmes designed to inspire and remind the nation of the edifying effects of a trip to the cinema, Eat Cinema helps viewers decide which film matches their mood with news on forthcoming releases, behind the scenes and red carpet coverage, special competition offers, interviews with the stars and much more. Its interactive facility, available on the channel's website www.eatcinema.com, provides a one-stop information service to find out what's on the big screen, helping you choose the right film to watch at the right time.
A delicious line-up of presenters, including Anthony Crank (T4), Toby Amies (MTV), Tessa Dunlop (BBC), actress-presenter Emily Booth, Mohini Sule (CBBC and BBC) and Matt Brown (I'm A Celebrity
presenter), will host nourishing programmes such as JUST THE TICKET which gives viewers a rundown of the week's new movie releases to find the right film for you and THE BIG LIST which finds
out what's hot and what's not based on viewer opinion thanks to the channel's interactive facility and its website.
Eat Cinema spokesperson Barry Jenkins says that "Eat Cinema strives to match audiences with the right movie and to help viewers discover the buzz of going to the cinema. Every movie is a 5-star movie for someone and EAT Cinema provides the best service for discovering that movie. "
Programmes include:
� Just the Ticket presented by Tessa Dunlop and Anthony Crank: a rundown of the week's new releases in an attempt to match movies to viewers
� The Big List presented by Matt Brown and Mohini Sule: the show highlights the week's Top 10 UK and US Films and offers viewers the chance to reflect on less serious topics such as "Most Lame Chat-up Lines" or "Top 5 Angry Police Chiefs" in cinema's history.
� First Nite Bites presented by Emily Booth: the show gives cinema-goers the chance to comment on the latest films as they exit the cinema
� Behind The Screens presented by Toby Amies: the show offers an insight into the process of filming a movie to seeing it on the big screen.
� Now Showing: 3-minute show presented every hour with samples of films on offer each week
� Spotlight - one film, one show - Spotlight is a comprehensive look at the very biggest new releases.
To view channel highlights please visit the following link: www.dmsukltd.com/hawk/eat_cinema/
