CANNES -- Queen Film, the Indonesian distribution company that is affiliated with new exhibition group Blitz Megaplex, has pre-emptively bought rights to a slew of U.S. and international pictures with broad marketing elements, among them the Bruce Willis starrer "Grimm." Other deals include:
* Hyde Park Intl.'s "Streetfighter," and James Ivory's "City of Your Final Destination, starring Anthony Hopkins;
* Odd Lot's upcoming Frank Miller pic "The Spirit";
* Focus Features' upcoming Fernando Meirelles-helmed thriller "Blindness" with Daniel Craig and Julianne Moore;
* Summit Entertainment's Mike Newell-helmed "Love in the Time of Cholera," with Javier Bardem, and "The Fall";
* Omega Entertainment's illusionist pic "Mandrake" and Deepa Mehta film "Luna";
* EuropaCorp's English language thriller "Taken";
* Mandarin Films' Tsui Hark romantic actioner "Missing";
* Pathe Pictures Intl.’s horror-comedy "The Cottage," and French-language Cannes competition film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly."
Friday, May 25, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Easternlight scores well with "Three Kingdoms"
CANNES -- The combination of Andy Lau and “Mission: Impossible 3” starlet Maggie Q is a hot ticket for sales agent Arclight.
Company’s Asian label Easternlight closed deals on the $20 million historic actioner “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon” with Imagem for Brazil, Spentzos for Greece, PT Amero for Indonesia, Grand Brilliance for Indonesia and Vietnam, Castello Lopes for Portugal, Aqua Pinema for Turkey and Sundream Motion Pictures for Hong Kong.
Pic, lensed by Daniel Lee, and co-starring Sammo Hung, Charlie Yeung and Yu Rongguang and Andy Oh, will also get outings in China through PolyBona and in Korea through producers Taewon Entertainment.
Company’s Asian label Easternlight closed deals on the $20 million historic actioner “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon” with Imagem for Brazil, Spentzos for Greece, PT Amero for Indonesia, Grand Brilliance for Indonesia and Vietnam, Castello Lopes for Portugal, Aqua Pinema for Turkey and Sundream Motion Pictures for Hong Kong.
Pic, lensed by Daniel Lee, and co-starring Sammo Hung, Charlie Yeung and Yu Rongguang and Andy Oh, will also get outings in China through PolyBona and in Korea through producers Taewon Entertainment.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Indonesian filmmakers rebel against festival, censors
JAKARTA -- More than 100 movie bizzers, including top helmers, thesps, producers, writers and technicians, Wednesday handed back awards as part of a protest aimed at several of the country's movie institutions.
They called for the government to abolish the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), the Film Censorship Institute, the Consultative Board for National Film Development and Film Law No. 8/1992, which they say no longer conform to the spirit of modern film-making.
They also seek the annulment of the best film award and other 'Citra' prizes given to "Ekskul," a campy comedy drama, at last month's FFI. "Ekskul" was panned by critics, slumped at the box office and, the group allege, infringed other composers' music rights.
Multi-hyphenates Nia Dinata and Mira Lesmana, actor Nicolas Saputra, actress Dian Sastro, helmers Rudi Soerdjarwo and Riri Riza were among members of the Indonesian Film Society, (Masyarakat Film Indonesia), who handed back to the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik 22 Citra awards won at previous IFFs. Next week they plan to return another 13 Citras, bringing the total to 35.
"Ekskul, which won the Citra trophy for best film, (illegally) used the score of a certain film and this constitutes a copyright infringement ... and indicates the poor management of FFI and lack of competence on the part of the festival organizers," Upi Avianto, the director of "Realitas, Cinta dan Rock 'N Roll" (Reality, Love and Rock 'N Roll) said, in a statement from the group.
Although it is country's foreign-language Oscar hopeful, Dinata's "Love for Share" ("Berbagi Suami") was not even nominated for best film Citra at the recently concluded 2006 IFF. Apparently one of the FFI judges took the movie's anti-polygamy message as a personal insult.
Indonesia's other well-known fest, the Jakarta Film Fest (Jiffest), also felt the impact of censorship in December. A Dutch documentary "Promised Paradise," was banned by the censor as it showed images of one of the Bali bombers. Three films that Jiffest tried to present in 2005 were also disqualified.
Jiffest programming chief Orlow Seunke has since resigned, blaming a lack of government support.
They called for the government to abolish the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), the Film Censorship Institute, the Consultative Board for National Film Development and Film Law No. 8/1992, which they say no longer conform to the spirit of modern film-making.
They also seek the annulment of the best film award and other 'Citra' prizes given to "Ekskul," a campy comedy drama, at last month's FFI. "Ekskul" was panned by critics, slumped at the box office and, the group allege, infringed other composers' music rights.
Multi-hyphenates Nia Dinata and Mira Lesmana, actor Nicolas Saputra, actress Dian Sastro, helmers Rudi Soerdjarwo and Riri Riza were among members of the Indonesian Film Society, (Masyarakat Film Indonesia), who handed back to the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik 22 Citra awards won at previous IFFs. Next week they plan to return another 13 Citras, bringing the total to 35.
"Ekskul, which won the Citra trophy for best film, (illegally) used the score of a certain film and this constitutes a copyright infringement ... and indicates the poor management of FFI and lack of competence on the part of the festival organizers," Upi Avianto, the director of "Realitas, Cinta dan Rock 'N Roll" (Reality, Love and Rock 'N Roll) said, in a statement from the group.
Although it is country's foreign-language Oscar hopeful, Dinata's "Love for Share" ("Berbagi Suami") was not even nominated for best film Citra at the recently concluded 2006 IFF. Apparently one of the FFI judges took the movie's anti-polygamy message as a personal insult.
Indonesia's other well-known fest, the Jakarta Film Fest (Jiffest), also felt the impact of censorship in December. A Dutch documentary "Promised Paradise," was banned by the censor as it showed images of one of the Bali bombers. Three films that Jiffest tried to present in 2005 were also disqualified.
Jiffest programming chief Orlow Seunke has since resigned, blaming a lack of government support.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
History, Crime channels air in Asia
The History Channel and a Crime and Investigation channel are coming to Asia.
A deal unveiled on the Croisette late Monday involves A&E Television Networks and Astro All Asia Networks, which will jointly launch and operate these branded niches across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Headquartered in Singapore, AETN All Asia Networks will also have operations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The venture is set to launch History and Crime & Investigation in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei in the second and third quarters of this year . The channels will launch in Taiwan by the end of the year. The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network will be fully language-versioned in Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai and Chinese.
AETN All Asia Networks also plans to launch the Biography Channel in the region, and to deploy the brands via VOD, mobile, broadband and HD.
AETN senior VP Sean Cohan said at the Mip TV market the region has "a deep commitment to education and a great tradition of story-telling," adding that he believed the channels would have tremendous appeal to viewers throughout the region.
Program schedules for both History and Crime & Investigation will feature local acquisitions and local productions.
The 12-year-old History Channel is available in some 130 countries; Crime & Investigation will feature series like "First 48," "SWAT" and "Cold Case Files."
AETN is a joint venture of the Hearst Corp., ABC and NBC.
A deal unveiled on the Croisette late Monday involves A&E Television Networks and Astro All Asia Networks, which will jointly launch and operate these branded niches across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Headquartered in Singapore, AETN All Asia Networks will also have operations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The venture is set to launch History and Crime & Investigation in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei in the second and third quarters of this year . The channels will launch in Taiwan by the end of the year. The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network will be fully language-versioned in Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai and Chinese.
AETN All Asia Networks also plans to launch the Biography Channel in the region, and to deploy the brands via VOD, mobile, broadband and HD.
AETN senior VP Sean Cohan said at the Mip TV market the region has "a deep commitment to education and a great tradition of story-telling," adding that he believed the channels would have tremendous appeal to viewers throughout the region.
Program schedules for both History and Crime & Investigation will feature local acquisitions and local productions.
The 12-year-old History Channel is available in some 130 countries; Crime & Investigation will feature series like "First 48," "SWAT" and "Cold Case Files."
AETN is a joint venture of the Hearst Corp., ABC and NBC.
"Three Days to Forever"
Hong Kong Film Fest
Three Days to Forever
3 hari untuk selamanya (Indonesia)
A Sinemart Pictures, Miles Films presentation of a Miles Films production, in association with Gothenburg Film Festival, the Global Film Initiative. (International sales: Miles Films, Jakarta.) Produced by Mira Lesmana. Executive producers, Leo Sutanto, Elly Yanti Noor, Toto Prasetyanto. Directed by Riri Riza. Screenplay, Sinar Ayu Massie.
With: Nicholas Saputra, Adinia Wirasti.
(Indonesian, Sundanese, English dialogue)
Two Indonesian cousins take a road trip to a family wedding in the warmhearted coming-of-ager "Three Days to Forever." Pic does its fair share of taboo-breaking (drugs, sexual references) but at heart is a feel-good teen movie recalling the '80s work of John Hughes. Though mild by Western standards, protags' rebellious attitude toward the confines of Islamic culture has already created local censorship problems prior to release. But young distaff auds should embrace the pic across Southeast Asia, thanks to heartthrob Nicholas Saputra's presence, with some additional fest slots likely.
Handsome Suf (Saputra) is entrusted with driving an antique cutlery set from Jakarta to a rural family wedding to be used in a traditional meal. The bride's sister, Ambar (Adinia Wirasti), is a party girl whose favorite pastimes are boys and drugs, though not necessarily in that order. While the rest of the family fly out to the wedding, Ambar is too hung over from the previous evening and joins Suf as a traveling companion.
On the road, the urban pair experience the rich tapestry of modern-day Indonesia: the exoticism and eroticism of traditional culture, rural sensibilities, generosity, conservatism, resort lifestyles and Islamic hypocrisy. Pic holds up Indonesia like a jewel to the light, examining it for its beauty and flaws, and its mostly nonjudgmental eye recalls the less paranoid moments of "Easy Rider" and its snapshots of '60s America.
Ambar's dilemma about whether to study abroad is supposed to create narrative tension, but the yarn's episodic structure precludes any real sense of urgency. During their three-day journey, protags smoke marijuana and chat freely about sex. Despite this, and Ambar's spoilt-child demeanor, both characters are admirable, positive role models on a rites-of-passage journey.
Sinar Ayu Massie's script is full of smart observations about contempo Indonesia, and Riri Riza's direction is breezy and efficient. Saputra builds on the charming persona he established in "Joni's Promise" a couple years ago; in turn, Wirasti ("About Her") presents a recognizable figure of distracted young womanhood.
Pic is augmented by a catchy Indonesian pop soundtrack, and all tech credits are decidedly pro.
Camera (color), Yadi Sugandi; editor, Sastha Sunu; music, Float; art director, Eros Eflin; sound (Dolby Digital), Satrio Budiono, Handy Ilfat; associate producers, Julia Fraser, Julie Lebrocquy. Reviewed at Hong Kong Film Festival (Global Vision), March 25, 2007. (Also in Hong Kong FilMart.) Running time: 102 MIN.
Three Days to Forever
3 hari untuk selamanya (Indonesia)
A Sinemart Pictures, Miles Films presentation of a Miles Films production, in association with Gothenburg Film Festival, the Global Film Initiative. (International sales: Miles Films, Jakarta.) Produced by Mira Lesmana. Executive producers, Leo Sutanto, Elly Yanti Noor, Toto Prasetyanto. Directed by Riri Riza. Screenplay, Sinar Ayu Massie.
With: Nicholas Saputra, Adinia Wirasti.
(Indonesian, Sundanese, English dialogue)
Two Indonesian cousins take a road trip to a family wedding in the warmhearted coming-of-ager "Three Days to Forever." Pic does its fair share of taboo-breaking (drugs, sexual references) but at heart is a feel-good teen movie recalling the '80s work of John Hughes. Though mild by Western standards, protags' rebellious attitude toward the confines of Islamic culture has already created local censorship problems prior to release. But young distaff auds should embrace the pic across Southeast Asia, thanks to heartthrob Nicholas Saputra's presence, with some additional fest slots likely.
Handsome Suf (Saputra) is entrusted with driving an antique cutlery set from Jakarta to a rural family wedding to be used in a traditional meal. The bride's sister, Ambar (Adinia Wirasti), is a party girl whose favorite pastimes are boys and drugs, though not necessarily in that order. While the rest of the family fly out to the wedding, Ambar is too hung over from the previous evening and joins Suf as a traveling companion.
On the road, the urban pair experience the rich tapestry of modern-day Indonesia: the exoticism and eroticism of traditional culture, rural sensibilities, generosity, conservatism, resort lifestyles and Islamic hypocrisy. Pic holds up Indonesia like a jewel to the light, examining it for its beauty and flaws, and its mostly nonjudgmental eye recalls the less paranoid moments of "Easy Rider" and its snapshots of '60s America.
Ambar's dilemma about whether to study abroad is supposed to create narrative tension, but the yarn's episodic structure precludes any real sense of urgency. During their three-day journey, protags smoke marijuana and chat freely about sex. Despite this, and Ambar's spoilt-child demeanor, both characters are admirable, positive role models on a rites-of-passage journey.
Sinar Ayu Massie's script is full of smart observations about contempo Indonesia, and Riri Riza's direction is breezy and efficient. Saputra builds on the charming persona he established in "Joni's Promise" a couple years ago; in turn, Wirasti ("About Her") presents a recognizable figure of distracted young womanhood.
Pic is augmented by a catchy Indonesian pop soundtrack, and all tech credits are decidedly pro.
Camera (color), Yadi Sugandi; editor, Sastha Sunu; music, Float; art director, Eros Eflin; sound (Dolby Digital), Satrio Budiono, Handy Ilfat; associate producers, Julia Fraser, Julie Lebrocquy. Reviewed at Hong Kong Film Festival (Global Vision), March 25, 2007. (Also in Hong Kong FilMart.) Running time: 102 MIN.
Monday, January 22, 2007
"Ganja Queen"
Documentary (Indonesia)
An HBO presentation of an Ikandy Films production. Produced by Janine Hosking, Robin Eastwood. Executive producer (for HBO), Sheila Nevins. Directed, written by Janine Hosking.
Guaranteed to torpedo Balinese tourism and send shivers up the spines of air travelers everywhere, "Ganja Queen" tells the harrowing story of Australian vacationer Schapelle Corby, who in 2004 was discovered with 10 pounds of pot in her luggage after she touched down in Indonesia -- where drug smuggling is punishable by death. Did she do it? Or was she the victim of ganja-running baggage handlers? Given the questions and tensions created by helmer Janine Hosking and the general anxieties about air travel, "Ganja Queen" should have a healthy life on cable, pot-tolerant college campuses and perhaps even in limited arthouse release.
Hosking maintains a sense of critical immediacy, cross-cutting electrically between televised news reports and interviews with Corby's friends and family -- almost all of whom prove to be liabilities, at least in terms of the case.
Indonesian authorities maintain that the genius of Corby's smuggling operation was in its apparent idiocy -- an enormous amount of marijuana, unhidden, and packed in transparent plastic. What could that mean, except that the defendant was cunning enough to have known that, if found out, the plan would look too inept to be real?
It's certainly a prosecutorial stretch, because what Hosking gives us is a group of Australians incapable of finding their way to the beach, much less being capable of running drugs.
Still, there's always a lingering doubt Corby's innocence. Is she really the world best actress and -- as the partisan Balinese press dubs her -- the "Ganja Queen"?
Corby is a likable presence, pretty, simple and bewildered by her life-or-death situation. Her family and friends are a collection of car wrecks whose personal histories are used to malign Corby back in Bali.
Her biggest champion, a hustling Australian business man named Ron Bakir, almost single-handedly destroys Corby's chances for freedom by slandering the entire Balinese court system. What "Ganja Queen" illustrates, obliquely, is the magnet that a celebrated court case can become for the attention-seeking eccentrics of the world.
Despite the suspense Hosking maintains, "Ganja Queen" does seem a bit prolonged, although one never really sees where the Corby story is going or where it will end up. And it's certainly a cautionary tale: You likely won't be reading about Schapelle Corby in Travel & Leisure anytime soon, but her tale should be required viewing for anyone looking for a vacation spot this year.
Camera (color, DV), Ian Pugsley; editors, Hosking, Stephen Hopes; music, Matt Walker. Reviewed on DVD, Los Angeles, Jan. 17, 2007. (In Slamdance Film Festival.) Running time: 121 MIN.
An HBO presentation of an Ikandy Films production. Produced by Janine Hosking, Robin Eastwood. Executive producer (for HBO), Sheila Nevins. Directed, written by Janine Hosking.
Guaranteed to torpedo Balinese tourism and send shivers up the spines of air travelers everywhere, "Ganja Queen" tells the harrowing story of Australian vacationer Schapelle Corby, who in 2004 was discovered with 10 pounds of pot in her luggage after she touched down in Indonesia -- where drug smuggling is punishable by death. Did she do it? Or was she the victim of ganja-running baggage handlers? Given the questions and tensions created by helmer Janine Hosking and the general anxieties about air travel, "Ganja Queen" should have a healthy life on cable, pot-tolerant college campuses and perhaps even in limited arthouse release.
Hosking maintains a sense of critical immediacy, cross-cutting electrically between televised news reports and interviews with Corby's friends and family -- almost all of whom prove to be liabilities, at least in terms of the case.
Indonesian authorities maintain that the genius of Corby's smuggling operation was in its apparent idiocy -- an enormous amount of marijuana, unhidden, and packed in transparent plastic. What could that mean, except that the defendant was cunning enough to have known that, if found out, the plan would look too inept to be real?
It's certainly a prosecutorial stretch, because what Hosking gives us is a group of Australians incapable of finding their way to the beach, much less being capable of running drugs.
Still, there's always a lingering doubt Corby's innocence. Is she really the world best actress and -- as the partisan Balinese press dubs her -- the "Ganja Queen"?
Corby is a likable presence, pretty, simple and bewildered by her life-or-death situation. Her family and friends are a collection of car wrecks whose personal histories are used to malign Corby back in Bali.
Her biggest champion, a hustling Australian business man named Ron Bakir, almost single-handedly destroys Corby's chances for freedom by slandering the entire Balinese court system. What "Ganja Queen" illustrates, obliquely, is the magnet that a celebrated court case can become for the attention-seeking eccentrics of the world.
Despite the suspense Hosking maintains, "Ganja Queen" does seem a bit prolonged, although one never really sees where the Corby story is going or where it will end up. And it's certainly a cautionary tale: You likely won't be reading about Schapelle Corby in Travel & Leisure anytime soon, but her tale should be required viewing for anyone looking for a vacation spot this year.
Camera (color, DV), Ian Pugsley; editors, Hosking, Stephen Hopes; music, Matt Walker. Reviewed on DVD, Los Angeles, Jan. 17, 2007. (In Slamdance Film Festival.) Running time: 121 MIN.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Jakarta fest wraps debut local film competition
The drama "Denias Senandung Di Atas Awan" helmed by John De Rantau won the first competition for Indonesian movies at the Jakarta Film Festival (Jiffest,) which wrapped its eighth frame Sunday.
Pic, about a boy who is turned down by school because he is too poor, was named best Indonesian film, while best local helmer award went to Rudy Soedjarwo for his "9 Naga," about child assassins. Country's best known art-house helmer Garin Nugruho was given a special mention for his "Opera Jawa," which preemed in Venice.
Jury said it was pleased with the overall tech quality of what it had to see, but gently rebuked the film-makers for being too talky. At least they made it to the screen.
Jiffest again struggled with censorship problems. Dutch docu "Promised Paradise" was prevented from screening by the Indonesian censor as it includes images of one of the Bali bombers. Nor did the censor relent on three movies which it banned last year on the grounds that they may disturb the peace in Aceh province and which festival programming chief Orlow Seunke tried to present again this time.
Seunke, a Dutch-national who has selected the line-up for the last three years, will now quit the fest. He said event has almost no financial support from government or local industry.
Having previously helmed 1982 Venice Golden Lion winner "The Taste Of Water," he is expected now to return to film-making.
Pic, about a boy who is turned down by school because he is too poor, was named best Indonesian film, while best local helmer award went to Rudy Soedjarwo for his "9 Naga," about child assassins. Country's best known art-house helmer Garin Nugruho was given a special mention for his "Opera Jawa," which preemed in Venice.
Jury said it was pleased with the overall tech quality of what it had to see, but gently rebuked the film-makers for being too talky. At least they made it to the screen.
Jiffest again struggled with censorship problems. Dutch docu "Promised Paradise" was prevented from screening by the Indonesian censor as it includes images of one of the Bali bombers. Nor did the censor relent on three movies which it banned last year on the grounds that they may disturb the peace in Aceh province and which festival programming chief Orlow Seunke tried to present again this time.
Seunke, a Dutch-national who has selected the line-up for the last three years, will now quit the fest. He said event has almost no financial support from government or local industry.
Having previously helmed 1982 Venice Golden Lion winner "The Taste Of Water," he is expected now to return to film-making.
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