Site for Europe's film-makers and production companies
London- Film-makers all over the world are looking for partnerships, fundings and a little bit of extra help. It's quite normal to have at least three-four partners to make one good film. A new website 'Film File Europe' is about the European film business- what's being funded, produced and distributed, who makes it work and how to find them. Read more »
‘It’s A Wonderful Afterlife’ by Gurinder Chadha
LONDON, March 1, 2009 – The Indian Film Company (TIFC) and Bend It Films have entered into a strategic partnership to produce Gurinder Chadha’s next feature, ‘It’s A Wonderful Afterlife’, taking off on 28th March, 2009 in London. The co-producers will enjoy global revenues in perpetuity. Read more »
Slumdog Millionaire: A new stage musical by AR Rahman?
London. India-EU Film Initiative has learned that there are serious efforts to turn BAFTA-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' into a Stage Musical. Film's screen writer Simon Beaufoy is hugely excited about the project and has proposed to write the stage version in association with AR Rahman, the award-winning composer of the film. The musical will have Rahman's songs and lots of Bollywood-style dances, sources say. Read more »
Akshay, Aamir, Advani and Accolades
Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan, after winning Indian National Award 'Padamshri' and NDTV's 'Best Entertainer of the year,' respectively, have been expressing their gratitude to the nation. And so is India's Leader of the Opposition who has been showing his admiration for Aamir's directorial debut 'Taare Zamin Par'. It's good to see politicians showing their interest in Indian cinema. Though, it's a bit ironical that it's the same Aamir Khan whose films for some time were banned by Mr. Advani's 'Taara Zamin Par'- Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat. Read more »
Chandni Chowk To China: Biggest Bollywood release in the USA
LA- Indian star Akshay Kumar, it seems, has decided to to do better than all Khans in marketing his films. His latest film 'Chandni Chowk To China' is touted as the biggest screen presentation by its distributors. Warner Bros Worldwide Anti-Piracy Group will mount a targeted campaign to protect the worldwide release of its upcoming Bollywood kung-fu comedy Chandni Chowk To China, which will open day-and-date in more than 35 markets on January 16 as part of a 40-territory release. Read more »
Blue: Rahman composes, Kylie sings and Farah choreographs
MUMBAI- It's a lethal combination and a sure number one hit in international charts, predict Bollywood insiders. Pop star Kylie Minogue sings for Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman's while Bollywood's ace choreograpger Farah Khan makes Kylie dance a la Bollywood style in Indian film 'Blue' directed by Anthony D'Souza. Apart from Kylie and Akshay Kumar, the song and dance number also features Indian actors Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta and Sanjay Dutt. Read more »
Indian film industry will not grow in 2009: FICCI & KPMG
Mumbai- Finally, the international recession has hit the Indian Entertainment Industry, indicates a joint FICCI-KPMG report. However, there are indications of long-term growth. Following years of rapid growth, the combined revenues of the Indian film industry are expected to remain flat in 2009 at around $2.2bn (Rs109.2bn), says the report. Read more »
Nepal issues new regulations after 'Chandni Chowk to China' protests
Kathmandu. Observers are concerned over the deteriorating Nepal-India relations as Nepal’s Ministry of Information and Communication issued new regulations for screening of national and international movies in the country, according to media reports Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009. The new regulations come after the country-wide protests against a Bollywood film ‘Chandni Chowk to China’ featuring Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone. In fact, the controversy marred the relations between India and Nepal. Read more »
Slumdog success divides Bollywood: Amitabh Bachchan vs Satyajit Ray
Bollywood actors as well as directors are confused whether they should shower words of praise on Danny Boyle's brilliant portrayal of Mumbai's underbelly in SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, or tear it apart for exposing India's struggle with its daily contradictions; good, bad and ugly. The controversy has begun to unravel following super star Amitabh Bachchan's criticism of the film for portraying India as a “Third World dirty underbelly developing nation”. Those who love Boyle’s film say “It also makes one wonder why some of our entirely over-rated, desi directors have failed so spectacularly in spelling out the ugly truth about Mumbai's dark world as transparently and convincingly?" Pervaiz Alam looks at the controversy. Read more »
Choreographer Farah Khan will address 59th Berlinale on "Film and Fate"
Berlin- by Kathy Robinson for iefilmi. Berlinale Talent Campus 2009 will have Cinematographer and Oscar® award winner Janusz Kamiński, and director and choreographer Farah Khan among the first Campus experts. Indian Farah Khan will explain how themes of fate and destiny dominate the Indian cinema for decades. Read more »