THE 78TH FESTIVAL DE CANNES WINNERS’ LIST
The 77th Festival de Cannes is open!
IGUAZU WATERFALLS AND THE MOVIE BLACK PANTHER
ETHNIC BIGOTRY & XENOPHOBIA AGAINST THE IGBOS IN NIGERIA
CANON/EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022 FILM INDUSTRY WORKSHOP

Waiting for ‘Superman’

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2011

Superman
From the filmmakers behind the Oscar Winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, comes an engaging, inspiring & provocative look at public education and the extraordinary people working to change it. WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” Debuts on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD February 15, 2011. Every Consumer Who Purchases the Blu-ray or DVD will be rewarded With a $25 Credit to donate to the classroom project of their choice at www.DonorsChoose.org. (PRNewsFoto/Paramount Home Entertainment)

23 Dec 2010 11:55 Africa/Lagos

From the Filmmakers Behind the Oscar® Winning Film An Inconvenient Truth, Comes an Engaging, Inspiring and Provocative Look at Public Education and the Extraordinary People Working to Change It: Waiting for ‘Superman’

Critically-Acclaimed and Groundbreaking Film Debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD February 15, 2011
Every Consumer Who Purchases the Blu-ray or DVD Will Be Rewarded With a $25 Credit to Donate to the Classroom Project of Their Choice at DonorsChoose.org

One of the ‘Top 10 Movies of 2010’ — Time Magazine
‘One of the year’s best films.’ —Scott Bowles, USA Today

PR Newswire

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 23, 2010

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Academy Award®-winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) delivers another provocative film experience with his compelling and inspirational examination of American public education in WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” , arriving on Blu-ray and DVD February 15, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Named the Best Documentary of the year by the National Board of Review, and cited by the American Film Institute as one of the year’s best movies, WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” was called “an electrifying call to action” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), and has launched a movement to achieve real and lasting change in the nation’s schools. The film depicts the moving and poignant struggles of real-life students and their families and the efforts of educators and reformers who are working to find viable solutions within a dysfunctional system. A stirring, must-see clarion call that has left audiences inspired and motivated to make a difference, WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” is truly “a powerful, passionate, revolution-inducing documentary” (Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101223/LA21688)

WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” is a Paramount Pictures release of a Participant Media presentation in association with Walden Media. The film is written by Davis Guggenheim & Billy Kimball.

“I think that every kid, no matter where they are born or what they have been given in life, deserves a great education and a piece of the American dream. The idea of education reform becomes a lot less abstract and a lot more compelling when you see these beautiful kids and realize all their potential,” said director Davis Guggenheim. “Now there are reformers out there who are defying the odds and proving it’s entirely possible to create outstanding schools even in the most troubled neighborhoods. That’s what drove me to tell this story and to make this movie.”

“Even if you don’t have kids, you should care about public education,” said Lesley Chilcott, producer of WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” . “If we want to solve global warming, poverty, health care and the economy, we need to have an educated society. Education is ground zero for tackling all these issues.”

In addition to the inspirational film, the Blu-ray and DVD feature four additional stories of real students and teachers, commentary by Davis Guggenheim and Lesley Chilcott, a conversation with Davis Guggenheim, the making of John Legend’s original song “Shine”, which was composed specifically for the film, a look at what’s changed in education since the movie was filmed and more.

DonorsChoose.org & Get Schooled Donation Programs

As part of an effort to assist viewers in finding a way to make a difference in public schools across the country, DonorsChoose.org will give consumers a $25 credit for each WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” Blu-ray or DVD purchase that can be donated to any classroom project listed on DonorsChoose.org. This generous donation exceeds the expected retail price of the DVD. Consumers simply visit the website, select a project and then enter their unique code to make the donation.

DonorsChoose.org was created in 2000 by a teacher who sensed that many people would like to help distressed public schools, but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. DonorsChoose.org allows people to help fund a specific project—all of which are submitted by real teachers and carefully vetted by the DonorsChoose.org team—based on the class location, the subject of the request, the level of poverty in the region or any other criteria they choose. Once a project is fully funded by donations, DonorsChoose.org purchases the requested classroom materials and ships them directly to the school. The recipients then provide photos of the project and thank you letters to the donors.

In addition, Paramount Home Entertainment will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” DVD and Blu-ray to Get Schooled, an independent non-profit organization founded by Viacom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Get Schooled uses the power of media and popular culture to motivate and inspire young people, their families and teachers to improve high school graduation rates and college-going rates. It works in close partnership with principals of high-need high schools around the country. To find out more, visit www.getschooled.com.

WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” Blu-ray &DVD

The WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. The DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The discs include the following special features, all of which are in HD on the Blu-ray:

* Changing the Odds – A poignant look into the challenges students and teachers have faced within the public school system and the successful programs that have been put in place to change the face of public education in the U.S.
* Updates—A look at what’s changed in education since the movie was filmed
* A Conversation with Davis Guggenheim
* The Future is in Our Classrooms
* The Making of “Shine”
* Deleted Scenes—Four additional stories of real-life students and teachers
o Keith and Tiffany
o Locke High and Steve Barr
o Bill Strickland
o The Green Family
* Commentary by director Davis Guggenheim and producer Lesley Chilcott

About Paramount Home Entertainment

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

For artwork please visit: https://arc.paramount.com

WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”

Street Date:

February 15, 2011

Pricing:

$19.99 U.S. (DVD)

$29.99 U.S. (Blu-ray)

Runtime:

111 minutes

U.S. Rating:

PG for some thematic material, mild language and incidental smoking

Canadian Rating:

G

SOURCE Paramount Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Brenda Ciccone, of Paramount Home Entertainment, +1-310-923-4414, Brenda_ciccone@paramount.com; or Jeff Sakson of Participant Media, +1-310-550-5109, jeff.sakson@participantmedia.com, for Paramount Home Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.getschooled.com/

15 features compete for 2010 VFX Oscar®

alice-in-wonderland-20090727-101548

15 features compete for 2010 VFX Oscar®

Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and twelve other films have advanced to the semifinal stage of Achievement in Visual Effects (VFX) for the 83rd Academy Awards.

The 15 films will be reduced to 7 films in early January and the 7 by the members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee who will view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films on Thursday, January 20. to nominate only five for the 2010 VFX Oscar® on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in in Beverly Hills, California.

harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-i-680791l
The following are the 15 films in alphabetical order:

• “Alice in Wonderland”
• “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”
• “Clash of the Titans”
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1″
• “Hereafter”
• “Inception”
• “Iron Man 2″
• “The Last Airbender”
• “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”
• “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”
• “Scott Pilgrim vs the World”
• “Shutter Island”
• “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
• “Tron: Legacy”
• “Unstoppable”

Chronicles-of-Narnia-3-Voyage-Dawn-Treader-1613

Click here for more details

Champions of Our Time wins multiple awards

The multiple award winning Nigerian movie Champions of Our Time is the extraordinary story of two exceptionally brilliant young girls from opposing ends of the social spectrum. They both nurse ambitions of becoming the next winner of the prestigious St. Flairs Foundation Quiz Competition. However, their quest unravels a web of intrigue, high-stakes politiking, corruption in high places, and a culture of neglect and discrimination against the physically challenged amongst us. How far will the players go to achieve their dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds? Find out in “CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME”.

Champions-of-our-time

The movie starring top Nigerian movie stars Segun Arinze, Joke Silva-Jacob, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ejike Asiegbu, Ayo Adesanya, Paul Adams and Ejike Metu has won the Best Film awards at the following international film festivals:
Zafaa International Film Festival
Abuja International Film Festival.
Zuma International Film Festival.

It also won the Golden Mboni prize at the Lola Kenya Screen FestivalTerracotta Nigerian Film and TV Awards.

–Official Selection at the African Movies Academy Awards (AMAA 2010)

–Official Selection at Zanzibar International Film Festival.

–Official Selection at Deep Fried International Film Festival, U.K.

–Official Selection at Lucasfilm International Film Festival, Germany

–Official Selection at Lola Kenya Screen Festival.

Cast: — Segun Arinze, Joke Silva-Jacob, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ejike Asiegbu, Ayo Adesanya, Charles Inojie, (Introducing) Treasure Obasi and Feyisola Ewulomi, Paul Adams, Ejike Metu.

Crew:

DIRECTOR — Mak Kusare
PRODUCER — Chidi Nwokeabia & Emeka Enyiocha
D.O.P — Pindem Lot
SCREENPLAY — Chidi Nwokeabia
EDITOR — Eric Obinwa & Idi Nasiru
MUSIC — Muhammed Musulumi
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER — Macnuel Productions
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR — Charles Inojie
CONTINUITY — Ikechukwu Omenaihe
MAKE-UP — Yemisi Ikotun
CUSTOMIER — Chioma Okafor
LOCATION — Macnuel Productions Ltd. & Simeone Owest

Champions of Our Time is now showing at the Silverbird Cinemas and other viewing centres in Nigeria.

Bridging the Gap: A Film Festival Unites the African Diaspora in New York

adiff

3 Dec 2010 22:26 Africa/Lagos

Bridging the Gap: A Film Festival Unites the African Diaspora in New York

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NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The African Diaspora International Film Festival kicks off its second week on Saturday, December 4. Set in New York City, the festival presents the diversity of the Black experience through a wide selection of thought provoking films and documentaries.

One hundred and six films make up the festival this year, with 25 US premieres and 39 New York premieres. Over the next two weeks, the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) has partnered with local organizations and businesses to bring stories from around the world to the New York audience. Women, Latinos, dancers, lovers; the 2010 selection has a little bit of something for everyone. “ADIFF is a bridge,” say the Spechs, curators of ADIFF, “between diverse communities looking for works that cannot be found under the same roof in other festivals.”

Women Indies Night on December 4, sponsored by New York Women in Films and Television, will present four works about women by women. The selection includes a short fiction “Riches,” by this year’s resident filmmaker Ingrid Sinclair. The film depicts the story of Mollie, a single mother who escapes apartheid South Africa, to find herself rejected in her new home of Zimbabwe because of her progressive ideas. “Riches” is one of six works by the filmmaker showing this year at the festival.

Latin America is featured with “Chance,” a hilarious comedy from Panama, which premieres on December 5. “Chance” is the story of Tona and Paquita, the housekeepers for a bourgeois family. Tired of being mistreated, Tona and Paquita take their bosses hostage to get what they are due: seven weeks back pay.

The highlight of this second half is no doubt the William Greaves Fundraiser, scheduled for December 9. ADIFF will host the event at the Schomburg Center in Harlem in honor of the celebrated African-American independent filmmaker. The funds will go towards Greaves’ upcoming film “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” which explores the cultural life of Harlem. The evening will include never before seen footage of this work and a conversation with Greaves’ family and friends.

These are just a few of the events brought to you this year. The selection also includes “Sheherazade: Tell me a Story,” a drama which explores the sexual, social and political repression women face in Egyptian society, and “Josephine Baker: Black Diva in a White Man’s World.”

The African Diaspora International Film Festival runs from November 26 to December 14 in New York City. For information, contact ADIFF at (212) 864-1760/ fax (212) 316-6020 or e-mail media@nyadiff.org. Festival web site: www.nyadiff.org.

SOURCE African Diaspora International Film Festival

CONTACT: Lara Louise Telson, +1-212-864-1760, media@nyadiff.org
Web Site: http://www.nyadiff.org/

Worldwide Premiere of The Tourist

3 Dec 2010 22:34 Africa/Lagos

Columbia Pictures Presents the Worldwide Premiere of The Tourist

the-tourist-movie-poster1

NEW YORK

WHAT:
World Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ THE TOURIST from the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City on December 6, 2010.

Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

WHO:
FROM THE FILM – Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Christina De Sica, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Bill Wheeler, Graham King, Tim Headington, Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman, Lloyd Phillips, Bahman Naraghi, Olivier Courson, Ron Halpern, James Newton Howard

INVITED GUESTS – Brad Pitt, Jennifer Connelly, Alessandra Ambrosio, Abigail Breslin , Christine Ebersole, Will Beatty, Calvin Klein, John Turturro, Gabourey Sidibe, Kim Kardashian, Kyle MacLachan & Desiree Gruber, Chris Henchy & Brooke Shields, Bestsy Johnson, Daymond John

B-ROLL:
Includes cast & celebrity sound bites, red carpet b-roll, and film’s trailer.

SATELLITE INFORMATION

EUROPE

1st Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 0400-0415 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 1000-1015 GMT

Satellite : Eutelsat W2A B1 CH 1 –
Downlink Frequency : 10,996.00 Horizontal QPSK
Symbol Rate : 5.632
FEC : 3/4
Color: PAL

Uplink: Arqiva London +44 (0) 1962 823030 – Arqiva Ref 5-17674 & 5-17675
Also available at BT Tower from Pacific Television Center’s PTC 5
UK broadcasters can call Pactv London for complementary refeeds via Tower. +44.207.702.1427

ASIA / PACIFIC

1st Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 0400-0415 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 0700-0715 GMT

Satellite : Asiasat 5 C3V Ch 1
Downlink : 3,744.50 Mhz Vertical QPSK
FEC : 3/4
Symbol Rate (Ms/s ): 6.1113
Color : NTSC
Uplink : GCA Sydney Australia +612.8258.7966 – Ref 142516 142518

LATIN AMERICA

1st Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 0400-0415 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date : 7th December 2010
Time : 1100-1115 GMT

Satellite : IS-805 13C Slot A
Downlink : D/L: 3873.5Mhz Vertical QPSK
FEC : 3/4
Symbol Rate (Ms/s) : 6.1113
Color : NTSC
Uplink : DCI Teleport Washington DC – Intelsat Ref 824995 824996

For more information please contact: Black Diamond Media, Inc. dubs@blackdiamondmedia.com/ 310.451.5500

/PRNewswire — Dec. 3, 2010/

SOURCE Columbia Pictures

Africa International Film Festival Takes Off in Port Harcourt

Africa-International-Film-Festival Logo

The first edition of the annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) opened Wednesday December 1, 2010, in the oil city of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. The film fiesta will end with a closing ceremony on Sunday.

Chioma Ude, Founder and Project Director of the Festival, who produced the successful 6th ION International Film Festival (IONIFF) (a touring festival originating from Hollywood) in the same city says they have a competent organizing committee of experts, including Peace Anyiam-Osigwe the founder and CEO of the annual AMAA Awards, Caterina Bortolussi, the co-producer of ION International Film Festival, Soledad Grognett, Ilaria Chessa, June Givanni, Alessandra Speciale and Celine Loader. They are poised to make AFRIFF the numero uno of film festivals in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Chioma Ude and Her Team 1Chioma Ude and her team of experts.

AFRIFF with the theme ; “Africa Unites” will widen content trade out of Africa and global partnerships.

The 4-day film festival has attracted filmmakers from across the continent and other parts of the world as shown by the films submitted by top filmmakers from Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique, the UK, India, Haiti, Pakistan, Turkey, the West Indies, Portugal, Germany and other countries who are coming to celebrate and compete for laurels at the event.

Two Nigerian films made the official selection of 13 films; Lancelot Imasuen’s “Home in Exile” and Ikechukwu Iyeke’s “Equal Rights & Justice”.

AFRIFF is supported by several sponsors, including the Rivers state government and other partners.

About AFRIFF:
Founded in 2009, the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has a vision to create a platform for the world to zoom in on the diversity and creativity of Africa through motion pictures. Starting December 2010, AFRIFF will unite film makers from across the world on the African soil. It will be held yearly in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria hosting both local and international filmmakers, celebrities, actors, producers, directors, film buyers, distributors, visual artists, film students, amateurs, film lovers and the media. AFRIFF will also launch a unique Film & Equipment Market, which will grow content and equipment trade out of Africa and foster partnerships

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Netflix and FilmDistrict Announce Agreement to Stream First-Run Theatrical Films

Netflix
1 Dec 2010 14:30 Africa/Lagos

Netflix and FilmDistrict Announce Agreement to Stream First-Run Theatrical Films to Netflix Members

First Movies to be Included Under the Deal in 2011 are the Crime Drama ‘Drive’ and the Sci-Fi Adventure ‘Lockout’

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and FilmDistrict, a multi-faceted acquisition, distribution, production, and financing company, today announced a multi-year agreement through which first-run, theatrically-released films distributed by FilmDistrict will be licensed to Netflix for streaming over the Internet in the “pay TV window” a few months after their release on DVD.

netflix1060779ct9

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/SF81638LOGO)

Under the deal, major motion pictures that traditionally would have been licensed to premium cable channels will flow instead from FilmDistrict to Netflix for streaming to its members, beginning in 2011.

Among the first films to be covered under the deal are “Drive,” director Nicolas Winding Refn’s adaptation of the James Sallis’ crime tale starring the Academy Award®-nominated duo Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, and the sci-fi action adventure film “Lockout,” starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, produced and co-written by Luc Besson, and co-directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger.

Broadening the variety and timeliness of content available for Netflix members to watch instantly is among the company’s highest priorities as it rapidly transforms itself into a service focused on streaming movies and TV shows over the Internet.

FilmDistrict was created earlier this year by Oscar®-winning producer Graham King and his business partners Tim Headington and Peter Schlessel, who became FilmDistrict’s CEO. Recently, film industry veterans Bob Berney and Adrian Alperovich joined FilmDistrict as president of film distribution and president of acquisitions and operations, respectively.

Said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix: “Netflix has a long and successful history working with Peter Schlessel and Bob Berney, and I have long admired Graham King’s amazing production success with movies like ‘The Departed’ and ‘Blood Diamond,’ which are among the most watched and highly rated movies of all time by Netflix members. We are thrilled to be in business with these proven tastemakers and entertainment business leaders.”

“We are very excited about this new relationship with Netflix,” said Mr. Alperovich. “The innovative and flexible entrepreneurial spirit they have demonstrated makes them a perfect partner for us as we build FilmDistrict into a strong independent distributor.”

“Netflix has strategically developed a bold business model and they love movies,” added Mr. Berney. “They have cultivated a loyal audience that gives FilmDistrict great opportunities for growth.”

About Netflix

With more than 16 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For $7.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 200 devices that stream from Netflix are available in the U.S. and a growing number are available in Canada. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.

CONTACT: Steve Swasey of Netflix, +1-408-540-3947, sswasey@netflix.com; or Liz Berger of FilmDistrict, +1-646-380-4494, lberger@filmdistrict.com
Web Site: http://www.netflix.com

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” Soars to a Record-Breaking

images

21 Nov 2010 18:45 Africa/Lagos

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” Soars to a Record-Breaking

Opening Weekend of GBP17.5m* at the UK Box Office (Estimated Please See Notes to Editors*)

LONDON, November 21, 2010/PRNewswire/ — Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” beginning the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, has made cinema history at the UK box office this weekend, breaking records for the biggest three day opening, the biggest single day, the biggest Friday, and the biggest Saturday of all time at UK cinemas.

harry_potter_and_the_deathly_hallows_movie_poster

These phenomenal records were previously held by Quantum of Solace who held the biggest three day opening and the biggest ever Friday with GBP15,384,217 and GBP4,957,917 respectively and the fourth in the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire holding both the previous records for the biggest single day and the biggest Saturday at UK cinemas with GBP5,657,391.

“The opening of this film has become an extraordinary worldwide event,” said Josh Berger, President and Managing Director of Warner Bros. Entertainment UK. “These remarkable box office numbers are a testament to the talents of the filmmakers, cast and to the vision of J.K. Rowling, the creator of this magical world. We congratulate everyone involved in the film, all of whom share in this success.”

In addition to holding the all-time franchise box office record-with a collective worldwide gross of more than $5.4 billion-all six previous Harry Potter films have the distinction of being among the 20 top-grossing box office hits of all time internationally. The seventh title, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” is a motion picture event in two full-length parts, with Part 2 opening on July 15, 2011.

Heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise the roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Jason Isaacs, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Toby Jones, David Legeno, Simon McBurney, Helen McCrory, Nick Moran, Peter Mullan, David O’Hara, Clémence Poésy, Natalia Tena, Julie Walters, Mark Williams and Bonnie Wright.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” was directed by David Yates, who also helmed “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David Heyman, the producer of all of the Harry Potter films, again produced the film, together with David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer, with John Trehy and Tim Lewis serving as co-producers.

Behind the scenes, the creative team was led by director of photography Eduardo Serra, production designer Stuart Craig, editor Mark Day, composer Alexandre Desplat, visual effects supervisor Tim Burke, and costume designer Jany Temime.

Concurrently with its theatrical release, the film is being released in select IMAX(R) theatres. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) through proprietary IMAX DMR(R) technology.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates Film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

http://www.harrypotter.com

Notes to Editors

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Three day opening weekend is an estimated figure of GBP17.5m until the final Sunday figure is confirmed (Final figures will be available on Monday 22nd November)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Friday figure GBP5,922m

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Saturday figure GBP6,645m

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Estimated Sunday figure GBP4,933m

Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone – Three day opening weekend – GBP9,600,368

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets – Three day opening weekend – GBP10,259,328

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban – Three day opening weekend – GBP9,508,349

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire – Three day opening weekend – GBP14,903,710

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix – Three day opening weekend – GBP13,007,909

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince – Three day opening weekend – GBP11,920,000

Previous UK record for biggest ever Saturday – Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire – GBP5,657,391

Previous UK record for biggest single day ever – Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire – GBP5,657,391

Previous UK record for biggest ever UK 3 day opening weekend – Quantum of Solace – GBP15,384,217

Previous UK record for biggest ever Friday – Quantum of Solace – GBP4,957,917

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

For further information please contact: Jayne Trotman, jayne.trotman@warnerbros.com, Tel: +44(0)207-984-5222

Can You Recall Your First Love?

Are you still flipped over your first love?
No one forgets his or her first love as Rod Stewart said that the first cut is the deepest. Rob Reiner’s FLIPPED brings back sweet memories of the ecstatic experience of one’s first love as two eighth graders start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites.

flipped-officialposter-newfullsize

Flipped features a fun-loving story adapted from Wendelin Van Draanen’s bestselling novel Flipped, and stars the up and coming young actress Madeline Carroll (Swing Vote) as well as John Mahoney (Frasier). Flipped is a movie that everyone can relate to as it explores the innocence and simplicity of first love.

The movie has been highly rated earning 7 stars on IMDb.

Flipped is hitting shelves from November 23rd and the most recommended family movie to enjoy for the Thanksgiving holidays and the Christmas.

Sundance Institute Announces Eight Projects for the 2010 RAWI Screenwriters Lab in Jordan

sundance_film_festival_2008_logo_image

Sundance Institute Announces Eight Projects for the 2010 RAWI Screenwriters Lab in Jordan

Los Angeles, CA – Artists from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories and Saudi Arabia participated in the sixth annual Rawi Screenwriters Lab run by the Royal Film Commission in consultation with Sundance Institute. An initiative of the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, the Rawi Screenwriters Lab was held from October 28 to November 1, 2010, as part of Sundance Institute Feature Film Program’s International work in support of emerging filmmakers around the world.

Launched in 2005, the Rawi Screenwriters Lab provides an opportunity for filmmakers from the region to develop their work under the guidance of accomplished Creative Advisors in an environment that encourages storytelling at the highest level. The five-day Lab is held in an eco-lodge in Wadi Feynan, Southern Jordan. This year’s Lab brought together eight Fellows from the Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa with Creative Advisors from the United States, Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East.

The projects and participants selected for the 2010 Middle East Screenwriter’s Lab are:

· Engi Wasef/A BEAUTIFUL GAME (Egypt)

· Mohamed Al Zayyat/BURYING MOM (Egypt)

· Mark Madini/DRUNK (Jordan)

· Michael Malek Najjar/FAREWELL BELOVED (U.S./Lebanon)

· Basil Khalil and Maha Assal/A GAZA WEEKEND (Palestinian Territories)

· Karim Bensalah/RED OLIVE TREE (Algeria)

· Faiza Ambah/A REVERENCE FOR SPIDERS (Saudi Arabia)

· Nadia Eliewat/WHERE TO LONDON (Jordan)

“Sundance Institute is committed to international storytelling, and raising the awareness of the value of independent artists’ voices on a global scale,” said Keri Putnam, Executive Director, Sundance Institute. “Our partnership with the Royal Jordanian Film Commission supports a talented and original group of emerging screenwriters for the 2010 Middle East Screenwriters Lab, and we look forward to hearing more from this new generation of filmmakers.”

“We had a remarkable array of talent this year with bold stories by Arab screenwriters from all over the world. Their writing explores a wide range of genres and subjects from questions of identity, social issues to deeply personal stories. These writers and their projects represent our strong belief in nurturing a new wave of Arab cinematic talent that promises to excite, touch and entertain film audiences the world over.” Said Mohannad Al-Bakri, Capacity Building Manager at the Royal Film Commission-Jordan.

Under the leadership of Reem Bader of the Royal Film Commission-Jordan and Alesia Weston of the Sundance Institute, the eight Fellows will work with nine international Creative Advisors: Tunisian Raja Amari, SATIN ROUGE; Puerto Rican Jose Rivera, MOTORCYCLE DIARIES; American William (BILL) Wheeler, THE HOAX; Lebanese Ziad Doueiri, WEST BEIRUT; Palestinian Suha Arraf, THE SYRIAN BRIDE; German Bernd Lichtenberg, GOOD BYE, LENIN!; American Greg Harrison, GROOVE; American Richard Glatzer, QUINCEANERA and Englishman Wash Westmoreland, QUINCEANERA.

The participants and projects selected for the 2010 Screenwriters Lab are:

The Beautiful Game/Enji Wassef (Writer/ Director), Egyptian

Ismail, also known as Ike, struggles to fit into two very different worlds – one is his Egyptian family’s home and the other is his hometown of South London. Although Ike loves football and shows natural raw talent, his father, a devout Muslim, refuses to support him. Ike is forced to seek out the coaching of an older Egyptian man in the neighborhood who helps him reach out to his father.

Enji Wassef was born in Cairo, Egypt and received a BA Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in government with a minor in modern standard Arabic. She left investment banking to pursue an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she wrote and directed award-winning short Breathtaking Views. She also wrote and directed a documentary Social Work. Her most recent film, Marina of the Zabbaleen, has screened at film festivals around the world, including Dubai International, where it won the Silver Muhr Award for Best Documentary.

Burying Mom/Mohamed El Zayyat (Writer/Director), Egypt

A young Egyptian man in New York is charged with the task of burying his divorced mother without anyone’s help or support back in his home country. What appears to be a simple task turns into a epic journey as he is met with obstacles at every turn – whether it is the Egyptian bureaucracy, the traditional culture, the desert climate, or his own ignorance and lack of social finesse.

Mohamed El Zayyat was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1980. He studied mass communication and advertising at university in Egypt and then attended a jazz performance workshop at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After working in advertising, Mohamed moved to New York to start his MA in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. He has written and directed the short films Bolbol Wel Zabayen and East West? East West, and co-directed Waiting to Stand Up.

Drunk/Mark Mardini (Writer/Director), Jordan

A young American travels to Jordan to find a father he has not seen in over twenty years. His desire for an apology leads him to a deeper understanding of his father’s actions and ultimately on a journey of self- discovery.

Mark Mardini has been writing since 1997, when he graduated from Chapman University School of Film. In 2001, his script Visionaries was a quarter finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Competition. His award-winning short film Roadkill has screened at festivals around the country.

Farewell Beloved/Michael Najjar (Writer/ Director), U.S./Lebanon

Farewell Beloved is the story of the relationship between Mary Elizabeth Haskell and famous poet Gibran Kahlil Gibran as told through the eyes of Haskell, his longtime benefactor, editor, and lover. An invitation to Gibran’s funeral starts her on a journey of remembering her extraordinary relationship with him and the lessons that he taught her.

Michael Najjar is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles focusing on Arab American theatre and performance. He holds an MFA in directing from York University in Toronto and a BA in Theater from the University of New Mexico. In Summer 2010, he directed a staged reading of his new play Talib with Silk Road Theatre Project in Chicago. He is currently co-editing the first anthology of Arab American and Arab Canadian Drama.

A Gaza Weekend/Basil Khalil(Writer/ Director), Palestinian Territories/U.S. and Maha Assal (Writer) Palestinian Territories

An outbreak of a mutant virus in Israel forces a quarantine from the international community. The only way out is through Gaza. New York businessman David Rubenstein hires local Waleed to help him escape on a boat out of the port of Gaza, but complications arise when the boat is delayed and Waleed must hide David and his Israeli family in the basement of his own crowded house.

Basil Khalil was born and raised in Nazareth, to a Palestinian father and an English-Irish mother. He has an MA in producing and script development from the Screen Academy Scotland in Edinburgh. Basil produced feature documentary Replay Revenge and a number of shorts, including the award-winning film Shooter. He currently lives in London, where he co-wrote a kids TV series for Al-Jazeera children’s channel and freelances on television production.

Maha Assal graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a double MA in Arabic and English literature. She wrote the screenplay for the post-apocalyptic feature film Existence that is to shoot in Palestine, and has also directed a number of shorts, including the award-winning film Oranges. Maha lives with her two children and husband in Nazareth, where she also lectures in screenwriting and works as a script editor.

Red Olive Tree/Karim Bensalah (Writer/ Director), Algeria

Ahmed Belmaki is a harki, an Algerian who served on the French side during the Algerian Independence War, living in France. When he is killed in a car accident, his restless soul causes him to come back from the dead to find his mother in Algeria. His deadbeat family is forced to confront the painful secrets of his past as they help him navigate the world of the living to find his long lost mother.

Karim Bensalah was born in Algeria in 1976. After spending his childhood in Algeria, Brazil, Haiti and Senegal, he went to study social sciences and philosophy in France. In 1998 Karim entered the London Film School, where he directed his first short Constant Flow. He then made his short film Fatima’s Secret. In 2005 he directed a segment of Paris La Metisse with 15 other young directors. Karim has also directed short films with the group Collectif Tribudom, and created his own installation work..

A Reverence for Spiders/Faiza Ambah (Writer/ Director), Saudi Arabia

Omar Metwally, an Egyptian cleric on a three-year assignment to run a mosque in Brooklyn, NY, faces multiple challenges to his beliefs, including a battle over the remains of a homeless young man he was kind enough to bury. His own wife and daughters’ rebel against Islamic prejudice and restrictions placed on women . He must discover if he’s capable of making the journey from religion to faith, and whether he can be both a good imam and a good father.

Faiza Saleh Ambah is a Saudi filmmaker with a background in journalism based in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. She left her job as Gulf Correspondent for The Washington Post in 2009 to focus on filmmaking. She has recently completed a summer filmmaking program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and is currently developing a comedy script.

Where to London/Nadia Eliewat (Writer/Director), Jordan

When Saba, a 26 year old Jordanian designer, travels to London to realize the perfect romantic relationship with a handsome young Jordanian surgeon, she discovers that his love is a sham. Feeling abandoned, Saba befriends a young Egyptian woman who challenges her to let go of her fears and embrace her true self.

Nadia Eliewat is a filmmaker and producer. She produced the award-winning short film High Heels. She has an MFA from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts and a BFA in visual arts from Jordan University. She currently teaches screenwriting and producing at the MBRSC School/American University in Dubai.

Immediately following the Lab, the Fellows and select other alumni were invited to attend a one-day seminar, Carry on as a Filmmaker through the Rawi Alumni Support Program. The seminar provides Rawi Fellows and alumni with strategic guidance on pursuing the next stages of the post-lab process. Speakers include: Sundance Institute and Rawi alumnus filmmaker Cherien Dabis, AMREEKA; and renowned Egyptian screenwriter and producer Mohamed Hefzy (PRIVATE ALEXANDRIA.)

About the Royal Film Commission

The Royal Film Commission was established in July 2003 with a mandate to promote for and contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Jordanian audio-visual industry through the advancement of human, technical, and financial capacities. In addition, it aims to provide comprehensive production support services to local, regional, and international productions.

For more information about the Royal Film Commission, visit: www.film.jo

Sundance Institute

Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America. www.sundance.org

Media Contact:
Royal Film Commission-Jordan
Tel: 06-4642266 ext. 17

Amy McGee, 310-360-1981

Amy_mcgee@sundance.org

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