Former CineMart and Rotterdam Lab manager Jacobine van der Vloed has been appointed as director of producers body Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (Ace).
Her appointment coincides with Ace’s imminent move from its current home of Paris to Amsterdam, which will take effect from Jan 1, 2017. The change of location was prompted by rising costs in Paris and the offer of additional funding from the Netherlands Film Fund.
Van der Vloed, who is at Diff working alongside Jane Williams at the Dubai Film Connection, said the choice of Amsterdam as Ace’s new home makes perfect sense.
“There also been a lot going on in Netherlands, from the Binger FilmLab to CineMart. It’s a country that has always looked outside.”
Current Ace chief Ronan Girre, who joined Ace in September 2007 as financial director before being promoted to the role of chief executive and head of studies, is leaving the organisation, as is head...
Her appointment coincides with Ace’s imminent move from its current home of Paris to Amsterdam, which will take effect from Jan 1, 2017. The change of location was prompted by rising costs in Paris and the offer of additional funding from the Netherlands Film Fund.
Van der Vloed, who is at Diff working alongside Jane Williams at the Dubai Film Connection, said the choice of Amsterdam as Ace’s new home makes perfect sense.
“There also been a lot going on in Netherlands, from the Binger FilmLab to CineMart. It’s a country that has always looked outside.”
Current Ace chief Ronan Girre, who joined Ace in September 2007 as financial director before being promoted to the role of chief executive and head of studies, is leaving the organisation, as is head...
- 12/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
Co-production market running Dec 9-11 during the Dubai International Film Festival unveils line-up.
Lebanese actress Hiam Abbass [pictured] and Palestinian director Najwa Najjar will be among the film-makers presenting their upcoming feature film projects at the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) this year.
The annual co-production event, focused on Arab cinema and taking place during the Dubai International Film Festival (Dec 7-14), unveiled its upcoming line-up on Monday (Nov 7).
Projects
A total of 13 projects – hailing from Lebanon, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Morocco – have been selected.
Abbass will present her second feature-length film A Girl Made Of Dust, an adaptation of Nathalie Abi-Ezzi’s acclaimed novel about the experiences of a family living in a village near Beirut during the 1980s Lebanese civil war, told from the perspective of its youngest member, the eight-year-old daughter Ruba.
Najjar – who won the top prize at the Dfc in 2011 for her last film Eyes Of A Thief – returns with The...
Lebanese actress Hiam Abbass [pictured] and Palestinian director Najwa Najjar will be among the film-makers presenting their upcoming feature film projects at the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) this year.
The annual co-production event, focused on Arab cinema and taking place during the Dubai International Film Festival (Dec 7-14), unveiled its upcoming line-up on Monday (Nov 7).
Projects
A total of 13 projects – hailing from Lebanon, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Morocco – have been selected.
Abbass will present her second feature-length film A Girl Made Of Dust, an adaptation of Nathalie Abi-Ezzi’s acclaimed novel about the experiences of a family living in a village near Beirut during the 1980s Lebanese civil war, told from the perspective of its youngest member, the eight-year-old daughter Ruba.
Najjar – who won the top prize at the Dfc in 2011 for her last film Eyes Of A Thief – returns with The...
- 11/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
Not all projects should be made or released just because they go through film labs, says Bero Beyer.
The new artistic director of International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr), Bero Beyer, has questioned the role of talent schemes across the industry, saying there is a need to curate “gems” among a glut of “mediocre” features.
Speaking on the second day of CineMart, Iffr’s long-established co-production market, Beyer said: “It seems as if the R&D department of the film industry has moved to funds and festivals, in particular to specialised talent development programs that have grown into alternate financing models for feature films.”
Beyer, previously an independent producer on films such as Paradise Now and Atlantic., said having the weight of a major festival behind a project provided an advantage to features from young filmmakers and was not typical of the indie film process.
“Several schemes have been initiated to create a space for artistic freedom,” he said...
The new artistic director of International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr), Bero Beyer, has questioned the role of talent schemes across the industry, saying there is a need to curate “gems” among a glut of “mediocre” features.
Speaking on the second day of CineMart, Iffr’s long-established co-production market, Beyer said: “It seems as if the R&D department of the film industry has moved to funds and festivals, in particular to specialised talent development programs that have grown into alternate financing models for feature films.”
Beyer, previously an independent producer on films such as Paradise Now and Atlantic., said having the weight of a major festival behind a project provided an advantage to features from young filmmakers and was not typical of the indie film process.
“Several schemes have been initiated to create a space for artistic freedom,” he said...
- 2/1/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Annemarie Jacir, Bassem Breish and Hala Lotfy to present projects at co-pro event taking place during Dubai International Film Festival.
Arab cinema focused co-production event the Dubai Film Connection (Dec 10-14) – taking place within the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) (Dec 9-16) - has unveiled its 2015 line-up.
Returning after a one-year hiatus, the Dfc has unveiled a packed slate of 12 film projects from Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco and Jordan.
Under new criteria for the relaunched event, the projects must have 20% of the budget in place.
“We were originally going for 10 projects but as there were so many good submissions we managed to squeeze in an extra two,” said director Jane Williams, who has returned as head of the event.
Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, Lebanese filmmaker Bassem Breish and Egypt’s Hala Lotfy will be among the directors presenting their upcoming feature projects.
Jacir will present her Nazareth-set dark comedy Wajib revolving around an estranged father...
Arab cinema focused co-production event the Dubai Film Connection (Dec 10-14) – taking place within the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) (Dec 9-16) - has unveiled its 2015 line-up.
Returning after a one-year hiatus, the Dfc has unveiled a packed slate of 12 film projects from Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco and Jordan.
Under new criteria for the relaunched event, the projects must have 20% of the budget in place.
“We were originally going for 10 projects but as there were so many good submissions we managed to squeeze in an extra two,” said director Jane Williams, who has returned as head of the event.
Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, Lebanese filmmaker Bassem Breish and Egypt’s Hala Lotfy will be among the directors presenting their upcoming feature projects.
Jacir will present her Nazareth-set dark comedy Wajib revolving around an estranged father...
- 11/16/2015
- ScreenDaily
Venice Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has hailed the success of the Festival’s groundbreaking Biennale College - Cinema programme in nurturing new work from young filmmakers around the world.
“We have gone beyond every expectation,” Barbera said of the programme. which was launched in 2012 and has now inspired similar initiatives in music and theatre in Venice.
Barbara himself has taken a intimate role in the running of the programme. The idea is to give 12 teams of emerging film directors and producers the chance to participate in high level workshops with feature film projects. Three of the projects will be commissioned and fully financed.
The 72nd Venice Film Festival (Sept 2-12) is screening all three films greenlit last year:
grotesque, surrealistic comedy Baby Bump by Kuba Czekaj;
Blanka by Japanese director Kohki Hasei (but which was shot in the Philippines) , about a young girl who survives in Manila begging and stealing from tourists; and
Us indie drama The Fits...
“We have gone beyond every expectation,” Barbera said of the programme. which was launched in 2012 and has now inspired similar initiatives in music and theatre in Venice.
Barbara himself has taken a intimate role in the running of the programme. The idea is to give 12 teams of emerging film directors and producers the chance to participate in high level workshops with feature film projects. Three of the projects will be commissioned and fully financed.
The 72nd Venice Film Festival (Sept 2-12) is screening all three films greenlit last year:
grotesque, surrealistic comedy Baby Bump by Kuba Czekaj;
Blanka by Japanese director Kohki Hasei (but which was shot in the Philippines) , about a young girl who survives in Manila begging and stealing from tourists; and
Us indie drama The Fits...
- 9/2/2015
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Co-production market to focus on 10 projects with 20% of budget in place.
Jane Williams has returned as the head of the Dubai International Film Festival’s reinstated co-production market the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc).
Launched in 2007, the Dfc was not held last year but will return this December during the festival (Dec 9-16), following demand from the region’s producers and filmmakers.
“The moment we made the decision to reinstate the Dfc we contacted Jane,” said Diff managing director Shivani Pandya, “Jane has been doing a great job. She’s fabulous at it. She is the one who set it up many years back.”
The re-launched event, marking its ninth edition this year, will take a slightly different approach from its predecessor.
“We’re going to select 10 projects with 20% of the budget in place,” said Williams.
“The feedback we had from guests indicated they wanted to see things a little more developed than we had previously selected. They really...
Jane Williams has returned as the head of the Dubai International Film Festival’s reinstated co-production market the Dubai Film Connection (Dfc).
Launched in 2007, the Dfc was not held last year but will return this December during the festival (Dec 9-16), following demand from the region’s producers and filmmakers.
“The moment we made the decision to reinstate the Dfc we contacted Jane,” said Diff managing director Shivani Pandya, “Jane has been doing a great job. She’s fabulous at it. She is the one who set it up many years back.”
The re-launched event, marking its ninth edition this year, will take a slightly different approach from its predecessor.
“We’re going to select 10 projects with 20% of the budget in place,” said Williams.
“The feedback we had from guests indicated they wanted to see things a little more developed than we had previously selected. They really...
- 5/18/2015
- ScreenDaily
The Robert Bosch Foundation, one of the main partners of Berlinale Talents, has successfully grabbed the attention of high-profile Arab and German filmmakers through its Film Prize for International Cooperation edition between young German and Arab filmmakers. The festive dinner hosted by the Robert Bosch Foundation on Friday, February 6th, witnessed the presence of a slew of filmmakers and cinema professionals and further guests from the 65th Berlin International Film Festival (currently running).
The dinner gala was attended by several filmmaking figures including Alaa Karkouti, CEO and Co-founder of Mad Solutions; Maher Diab, Creative Director and Co-founder of Mad Solutions; Abdallah Al Shami, Mad's Managing Partner for Mad's Gcc operations; Jane Williams, Arab Cinema Center Consultant at Berlinale; Emirati/Lebanese Producer Paul Baboudjian; Egyptian Producer Hani Osama, Co-founder of The Producers; Emirati Filmmaker Nawaf Al-Janahi; Shivani Pandya, Managing Director of Dubai International Film Festival ;Ahmed Shahm, Founder of the post production company X-Rated; Wagih Ahmed, Co-founder of X-Rated; Lebanese Director Myrna Maakaron; Egyptian Actor/Producer Ahmad Al Fishawy, Founder of Crystal Dog; George David, General Manager of the Royal Film Commission-Jordan; Josef Kullengard, Malmo Arab Film Festival Project Coordinator; Egyptian Filmmaker Marianne Khoury and Hania Mroue, Founder and Manager of Metropolis Art Cinema Association.
The event was also attended by Florian Weghorn, Program Manager at Berlinale Talents;Christine Tröstrum, Project Manager at Berlinale Talents; Berlinale Shorts curator Maike Mia Höhne; Irit Neidhardt, Director at Mec Film;Adriek Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Director of Industry Office International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam;Claudia Jubeh, Head of Programming at Alfilm- Arab Film Festival and Fadi Abdelnour Artistic Director at Alfilm-Arab Film Festival.
Presented by Dr. Ingrid Hamm, CEO of the Robert Bosch Foundation along with Frank W. Albers, Project Manager and Initiator of the Film Prize, the evening was intended in the first place to gather and create a network among Arab and German cinema professionals, as well as the festival's guests. The evening also included the screening of Bassem Breish's Free Range, a winner of the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Foundation.
This year marks the 3rd edition of the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Foundation which grants three awards for international co-operations between young German and Arab filmmakers in the categories documentary, short fiction film and animation.
The 1st Film Prize of Robert Bosch Foundation was initiated in 2013. The three prizes, each worth up to 70,000 Euros, are awarded in a gala within Berlinale Talents to the best 3 projects in the categories: animation, documentary, and short fiction film. One or two members of each winning team will have the opportunity to be guests at Berlinale Talents in its upcoming edition in the following year.
The Film Prize targets film co-productions between young German filmmakers and their partners from the Arab World to encourage intercultural exchange. Applying for this competition starts annually in May and ends in September and the winning film will benefit from the value of the prize in funding his/her film project.
The dinner gala was attended by several filmmaking figures including Alaa Karkouti, CEO and Co-founder of Mad Solutions; Maher Diab, Creative Director and Co-founder of Mad Solutions; Abdallah Al Shami, Mad's Managing Partner for Mad's Gcc operations; Jane Williams, Arab Cinema Center Consultant at Berlinale; Emirati/Lebanese Producer Paul Baboudjian; Egyptian Producer Hani Osama, Co-founder of The Producers; Emirati Filmmaker Nawaf Al-Janahi; Shivani Pandya, Managing Director of Dubai International Film Festival ;Ahmed Shahm, Founder of the post production company X-Rated; Wagih Ahmed, Co-founder of X-Rated; Lebanese Director Myrna Maakaron; Egyptian Actor/Producer Ahmad Al Fishawy, Founder of Crystal Dog; George David, General Manager of the Royal Film Commission-Jordan; Josef Kullengard, Malmo Arab Film Festival Project Coordinator; Egyptian Filmmaker Marianne Khoury and Hania Mroue, Founder and Manager of Metropolis Art Cinema Association.
The event was also attended by Florian Weghorn, Program Manager at Berlinale Talents;Christine Tröstrum, Project Manager at Berlinale Talents; Berlinale Shorts curator Maike Mia Höhne; Irit Neidhardt, Director at Mec Film;Adriek Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Director of Industry Office International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam;Claudia Jubeh, Head of Programming at Alfilm- Arab Film Festival and Fadi Abdelnour Artistic Director at Alfilm-Arab Film Festival.
Presented by Dr. Ingrid Hamm, CEO of the Robert Bosch Foundation along with Frank W. Albers, Project Manager and Initiator of the Film Prize, the evening was intended in the first place to gather and create a network among Arab and German cinema professionals, as well as the festival's guests. The evening also included the screening of Bassem Breish's Free Range, a winner of the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Foundation.
This year marks the 3rd edition of the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Foundation which grants three awards for international co-operations between young German and Arab filmmakers in the categories documentary, short fiction film and animation.
The 1st Film Prize of Robert Bosch Foundation was initiated in 2013. The three prizes, each worth up to 70,000 Euros, are awarded in a gala within Berlinale Talents to the best 3 projects in the categories: animation, documentary, and short fiction film. One or two members of each winning team will have the opportunity to be guests at Berlinale Talents in its upcoming edition in the following year.
The Film Prize targets film co-productions between young German filmmakers and their partners from the Arab World to encourage intercultural exchange. Applying for this competition starts annually in May and ends in September and the winning film will benefit from the value of the prize in funding his/her film project.
- 2/11/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
A new international platform for Arab cinema, the Arab Cinema Center (Acc), will launch at this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, representing 11 Arab production companies and organisations.
Organised by Egypt’s Mad Solutions, the Acc delegation will also include Egyptian production companies Film Clinic, The Producers, X-Rated, Crystal Dog and Middle West Films; Jordan’s The Imaginarium Films, Lebanon’s Screen Institute Beirut, UAE’s Emirati Cinema Campaign, Sweden’s Malmo Arab Film Festival and Arab Cinema in Sweden.
Mad Solutions’ team includes CEO Alaa Karkouti, creative director Maher Diab, managing partner for its Gcc bureau Abdallah Al Shami and director of international operations Colin Brown.
In addition, Jane Williams, former director of Dubai International Film Festival’s Dubai Film Connection (Dfc), is working as an independent consultant for the Acc.
The Acc’s activities in Berlin will include hosting screenings of Arab films, organising networking sessions and meetings with international film companies and organisations...
Organised by Egypt’s Mad Solutions, the Acc delegation will also include Egyptian production companies Film Clinic, The Producers, X-Rated, Crystal Dog and Middle West Films; Jordan’s The Imaginarium Films, Lebanon’s Screen Institute Beirut, UAE’s Emirati Cinema Campaign, Sweden’s Malmo Arab Film Festival and Arab Cinema in Sweden.
Mad Solutions’ team includes CEO Alaa Karkouti, creative director Maher Diab, managing partner for its Gcc bureau Abdallah Al Shami and director of international operations Colin Brown.
In addition, Jane Williams, former director of Dubai International Film Festival’s Dubai Film Connection (Dfc), is working as an independent consultant for the Acc.
The Acc’s activities in Berlin will include hosting screenings of Arab films, organising networking sessions and meetings with international film companies and organisations...
- 1/27/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Dubai Film Connection (Dfc) handed out $115,000 in prize money on Thursday night, including the top three prizes of $25,000 which went to Ahmed Ibrahim’s Kharouf (Egypt), Leyla Bouzid’s God Protect My Daughter (Tunisia) and Ghada Terawi’s The Forgotten (Palestine).
Ibrahim’s Kharouf follows a man on the verge of leaving Egypt; while God Protect My Daughter captures pre-revolutionary Tunisia through the character of a rebellious teenager. The Forgotten tells the story of Japanese, pro-Palestinian activist Kozo Okamoto.
The $8,250 Arte International Prize went to Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi’s Gaza D.C., revolving around an ill-fated love story between a Us activist and a local man in the Gaza Strip.
The $6,800 Oif Prize, sponsored by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, went to Alexandria-based Mark Lotfy’s documentary Dangerous Profiles, exploring how political activists in Egypt have created online avatars.
Palestinian Firas Khoury’s The Flag won the $10,000 Front Row/Kncc Award. Produced by [link...
Ibrahim’s Kharouf follows a man on the verge of leaving Egypt; while God Protect My Daughter captures pre-revolutionary Tunisia through the character of a rebellious teenager. The Forgotten tells the story of Japanese, pro-Palestinian activist Kozo Okamoto.
The $8,250 Arte International Prize went to Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi’s Gaza D.C., revolving around an ill-fated love story between a Us activist and a local man in the Gaza Strip.
The $6,800 Oif Prize, sponsored by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, went to Alexandria-based Mark Lotfy’s documentary Dangerous Profiles, exploring how political activists in Egypt have created online avatars.
Palestinian Firas Khoury’s The Flag won the $10,000 Front Row/Kncc Award. Produced by [link...
- 12/11/2013
- ScreenDaily
Egyptian production company New Century Production and France’s National Cinema Centre (Cnc) will each present a new award at this year’s edition of Dubai Film Connection (Dfc).
The $10,000 New Century Filmmaker Award aims to encourage and promote talented Arab filmmakers and will be presented to a director or scriptwriter with a distinctive project in Dfc.
“The Dfc aims to raise the visibility of Arab filmmakers and stimulate the growth of film production originating from the Arab world. We are pleased to welcome New Century Production on board and look forward to working with them at our tenth edition and a successful partnership in the coming years,” said Dfc and Film Forum director Jane Williams.
New Century is a new production arm of Egypt’s Dollar Film, one of the Arab world’s oldest film companies, which also specialises in film distribution.
Cnc’s $13,700 (Euros10,000) award, given to a producer, is intended...
The $10,000 New Century Filmmaker Award aims to encourage and promote talented Arab filmmakers and will be presented to a director or scriptwriter with a distinctive project in Dfc.
“The Dfc aims to raise the visibility of Arab filmmakers and stimulate the growth of film production originating from the Arab world. We are pleased to welcome New Century Production on board and look forward to working with them at our tenth edition and a successful partnership in the coming years,” said Dfc and Film Forum director Jane Williams.
New Century is a new production arm of Egypt’s Dollar Film, one of the Arab world’s oldest film companies, which also specialises in film distribution.
Cnc’s $13,700 (Euros10,000) award, given to a producer, is intended...
- 12/7/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Swimmer who found movie fame in a string of MGM musicals
Esther Williams, "Hollywood's Mermaid", who has died aged 91, swam her way through more than a dozen splashy MGM musicals in the 1940s and early 50s. While smiling at the camera, she was able to do a combination of crawl, breast and backstroke, and was forever blowing bubbles under water, seemingly having an inexhaustible supply of air.
Like the starlets Lana Turner, Kathryn Grayson and Donna Reed before her, she started out for MGM in a Hardy Family picture, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) – though one that allowed her to swim with Mickey Rooney. After being billed 19th in A Guy Named Joe (1943), she shot to stardom in her third film, Bathing Beauty (1944).
It started out as an average Red Skelton vehicle, first called Mr Co-Ed, then Sing and Swim, but Esther's superb figure and pretty features were heightened by Technicolor...
Esther Williams, "Hollywood's Mermaid", who has died aged 91, swam her way through more than a dozen splashy MGM musicals in the 1940s and early 50s. While smiling at the camera, she was able to do a combination of crawl, breast and backstroke, and was forever blowing bubbles under water, seemingly having an inexhaustible supply of air.
Like the starlets Lana Turner, Kathryn Grayson and Donna Reed before her, she started out for MGM in a Hardy Family picture, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) – though one that allowed her to swim with Mickey Rooney. After being billed 19th in A Guy Named Joe (1943), she shot to stardom in her third film, Bathing Beauty (1944).
It started out as an average Red Skelton vehicle, first called Mr Co-Ed, then Sing and Swim, but Esther's superb figure and pretty features were heightened by Technicolor...
- 6/7/2013
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Esther Williams, the bathing beauty who tantalized Hollywood in the aquatic Technicolor musicals of the 19402 and 19502 has died. She was 91. According to her longtime publicist, Harlan Boll, the swimming champion turned actress known as the Million Dollar Mermaid died early Thursday in her sleep. Awww.
So long Ms. Williams and thanks for the Technicolor dreams!
Here's more info on Williams' life from Wiki:
Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 . June 6, 2013)[1][2] was an American competitive swimmer and MGM movie actress.
Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role vacated by Eleanor Holm after the show's move from New York City to San Francisco.
While in the city, she spent five months swimming...
So long Ms. Williams and thanks for the Technicolor dreams!
Here's more info on Williams' life from Wiki:
Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 . June 6, 2013)[1][2] was an American competitive swimmer and MGM movie actress.
Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role vacated by Eleanor Holm after the show's move from New York City to San Francisco.
While in the city, she spent five months swimming...
- 6/6/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Los Angeles — Esther Williams, the swimming champion turned actress who starred in glittering and aquatic Technicolor musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 91.
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood's biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as "Easy to Wed," `'Neptune's Daughter" and "Dangerous When Wet" followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films "That's Entertainment." Williams' co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
When hard...
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood's biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as "Easy to Wed," `'Neptune's Daughter" and "Dangerous When Wet" followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films "That's Entertainment." Williams' co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
When hard...
- 6/6/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Los Angeles, Calif. - Esther Williams, the swimming champion turned actress who starred in glittering and aquatic Technicolor musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 91.
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood's biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as "Easy to Wed," ''Neptune's Daughter" and "Dangerous When Wet" followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films "That's Entertainment." Williams' co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood's biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as "Easy to Wed," ''Neptune's Daughter" and "Dangerous When Wet" followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films "That's Entertainment." Williams' co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
- 6/6/2013
- by CP
- Huffington Post
Esther Williams, the swimming champion turned actress who starred in glittering and aquatic Technicolor musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 91.
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as Easy to Wed, Neptune’s Daughter, and Dangerous When Wet followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films That’s Entertainment. Williams’ co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
When hard times signaled the end of big studios and costly musicals in the mid-’50s, Williams tried non-swimming roles with little success. After her 1962 marriage to Fernando Lamas, her co-star in Dangerous When Wet, she retired from public life.
Williams died early Thursday in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll.
Following in the footsteps of Sonja Henie, who went from skating champion to movie star, Williams became one of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers, appearing in spectacular swimsuit numbers that capitalized on her wholesome beauty and perfect figure.
Such films as Easy to Wed, Neptune’s Daughter, and Dangerous When Wet followed the same formula: romance, music, a bit of comedy and a flimsy plot that provided excuses to get Esther into the water.
The extravaganzas dazzled a second generation via television and the compilation films That’s Entertainment. Williams’ co-stars included the pick of the MGM contract list, including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban and Howard Keel.
When hard times signaled the end of big studios and costly musicals in the mid-’50s, Williams tried non-swimming roles with little success. After her 1962 marriage to Fernando Lamas, her co-star in Dangerous When Wet, she retired from public life.
- 6/6/2013
- by Associated Press
- EW - Inside Movies
The silver screen has long boasted many great beauties, but only one was ever worthy of the title "America's Mermaid." Esther Williams, MGM's great synchronized swimming star and box-office attraction of the '40s and '50s, died. She was 91. The star's publicist Harlan Boll told the Associated Press she died in her sleep Thursday. Relatively removed from the public eye since the publication of her 1999 memoir, The Million Dollar Mermaid, Williams suffered some health setbacks in the past several years. In 2001, she fractured her ankle (which then became infected, necessitating the use of a walker) after a spill down...
- 6/6/2013
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
It was an exciting evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last night (May 21) as the 2013 Gracies Gala took over the joint.
Lucy Hale was all about showing off her sexy midsection in a cut-out bronze dress as she hammed it up for the shutterbugs prior to the big event.
Meanwhile, “Parks and Recreation” costars Amy Poehler and Adam Scott had a blast catching up, and Giuliana Rancic worked her red carpet magic like a seasoned pro.
The 2013 Gracies Winners are:
Outstanding Interview
23 and Me, CBS News/CBS This Morning
Outstanding Hard News Feature
A Cry For Help: Disaster in the Desert, ABC News
Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Amy Poehler, Universal Television/Parks & Recreation
Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series
Anjelica Huston, Universal Television/Smash
Outstanding Magazine
Aqui y Ahora: "The Woman in the Mirror", Univision Network
Outstanding Director...
Lucy Hale was all about showing off her sexy midsection in a cut-out bronze dress as she hammed it up for the shutterbugs prior to the big event.
Meanwhile, “Parks and Recreation” costars Amy Poehler and Adam Scott had a blast catching up, and Giuliana Rancic worked her red carpet magic like a seasoned pro.
The 2013 Gracies Winners are:
Outstanding Interview
23 and Me, CBS News/CBS This Morning
Outstanding Hard News Feature
A Cry For Help: Disaster in the Desert, ABC News
Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Amy Poehler, Universal Television/Parks & Recreation
Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series
Anjelica Huston, Universal Television/Smash
Outstanding Magazine
Aqui y Ahora: "The Woman in the Mirror", Univision Network
Outstanding Director...
- 5/22/2013
- GossipCenter
The Dubai Film Market is the business centre of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff). It is the leading industry platform in the world dedicated to Arab cinema providing unprecedented insights to the region’s trends and access to the Middle East’s leading industry personalities. In 2011, the Market welcomed over 1,500 industry professionals including key decision-makers and trendsetters from more than 80 countries. The Market is the destination to discover the best cinema from the Arab world, Asia and Africa and has established several pioneering initiatives to showcase and support Arab film-makers. Dubai Film Market runs concurrently with Diff and is conveniently located in the heart of the Festival Headquarters. Don't miss the most exciting must-attend industry event in the region.
Filmmart
Filmmart, the festival’s sales and acquisitions platform, will once again welcome more than 240 companies and 1,500 sales agents, distributors, producers, film-makers and TV buyers from the region and beyond. Located within the Market, Filmmart is the leading marketplace for Arab, Asian and African films.
This year, Cinetech, Filmmart’s digital video library will feature more than 350 films. Selected titles will include films from the Diff programme, the 2012 Gulf Film Festival, Market Recommended Titles, a selection from the Venice International Film Festival and Enjaaz supported Works in Progress. Cinetech allows viewers to contact sales agents, request screeners and above all, acquire films.
Sales agents attending Diff with a film in the festival’s programme have the added advantage of presenting up to a maximum of 3 films in Cinetech.
For further information click here.
Dubai Film Connection
The Dubai Film Connection is a co-production market that selects and invites 15 feature fiction and documentary projects in development from the Arab world looking for co-producers and financing. To date, 26 projects Dfc projects have been completed and a further 10 are currently in production. Selected film-makers are presented with the opportunity to discuss their projects with producers, financiers, film funds, distributors, sales agents and broadcasters. Attendance at Dfc is by invitation only. If you are interested in receiving information about Dfc contact: dubaifilmconnection@tecom.ae
Enjaaz
Enjaaz is the Market’s post-production support programme specifically designed to support Arab films. Since 2010, 45 films have benefited from Enjaaz support. . Successful applicants are eligible to receive funding up to a maximum of Us $100,000 per film.
This year, 6 Enjaaz projects will be presenting their projects at the Market. Their films (works-in-progress) will be available for viewing at Filmmart’s Cinetech.
Forum
The Dubai Film Market hosts the Forum, an invigorating series of international panels, workshops, master classes and ‘How to’ sessions presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information from the industry. The Forum also hosts invaluable networking opportunities during the Market.
Exchange
The Festival’s training and partnership activities with leading international organizations and institutions include Interchange, a project development and co-production programme for European and Arab film-makers in partnership with Eave and the TorinoFilmLab and supported by Media Mundus.
The Exchange also comprises partnerships with the Arab Fund for Art and Culture – Lebanon; Iwc Schaffhausen – Switzerland; Royal Film Commission – Jordan; Beirut DC – Lebanon; DoxBox – Syria; Cph:dox – Denmark; India Film Bazaar – India; Ifp – USA and San Sebastian “Cinema in Motion” – Spain.
Selected film projects from our partners will participate at Diff 2012.
Diary Dates
December 10th -13th
Dubai Film Connection
December 12th
Interchange Projects Pitching Event
December 10th
Forum - Broadcasters Day
December 13th
Forum - Documentary Day
December 10th - 16th
Daily “How to sessions” 9.30 to 11.00
December 10th - 16th
Daily Networking sessions 16.30 to 18.00
The Team
Jane Williams - Director Dubai Film Connection & Forum
Pascal Diot - Manager Dubai Filmmart
In Focus
Fund for European Co-Productions selects Dubai International Film Festival to host 1st international meeting
Eurimages may open 129-year-old collaborative platform to Arab films
Didn'T Register Yet?
Didn't register yet to attend the Dubai Film Market?
Register now!
Filmmart
Filmmart, the festival’s sales and acquisitions platform, will once again welcome more than 240 companies and 1,500 sales agents, distributors, producers, film-makers and TV buyers from the region and beyond. Located within the Market, Filmmart is the leading marketplace for Arab, Asian and African films.
This year, Cinetech, Filmmart’s digital video library will feature more than 350 films. Selected titles will include films from the Diff programme, the 2012 Gulf Film Festival, Market Recommended Titles, a selection from the Venice International Film Festival and Enjaaz supported Works in Progress. Cinetech allows viewers to contact sales agents, request screeners and above all, acquire films.
Sales agents attending Diff with a film in the festival’s programme have the added advantage of presenting up to a maximum of 3 films in Cinetech.
For further information click here.
Dubai Film Connection
The Dubai Film Connection is a co-production market that selects and invites 15 feature fiction and documentary projects in development from the Arab world looking for co-producers and financing. To date, 26 projects Dfc projects have been completed and a further 10 are currently in production. Selected film-makers are presented with the opportunity to discuss their projects with producers, financiers, film funds, distributors, sales agents and broadcasters. Attendance at Dfc is by invitation only. If you are interested in receiving information about Dfc contact: dubaifilmconnection@tecom.ae
Enjaaz
Enjaaz is the Market’s post-production support programme specifically designed to support Arab films. Since 2010, 45 films have benefited from Enjaaz support. . Successful applicants are eligible to receive funding up to a maximum of Us $100,000 per film.
This year, 6 Enjaaz projects will be presenting their projects at the Market. Their films (works-in-progress) will be available for viewing at Filmmart’s Cinetech.
Forum
The Dubai Film Market hosts the Forum, an invigorating series of international panels, workshops, master classes and ‘How to’ sessions presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information from the industry. The Forum also hosts invaluable networking opportunities during the Market.
Exchange
The Festival’s training and partnership activities with leading international organizations and institutions include Interchange, a project development and co-production programme for European and Arab film-makers in partnership with Eave and the TorinoFilmLab and supported by Media Mundus.
The Exchange also comprises partnerships with the Arab Fund for Art and Culture – Lebanon; Iwc Schaffhausen – Switzerland; Royal Film Commission – Jordan; Beirut DC – Lebanon; DoxBox – Syria; Cph:dox – Denmark; India Film Bazaar – India; Ifp – USA and San Sebastian “Cinema in Motion” – Spain.
Selected film projects from our partners will participate at Diff 2012.
Diary Dates
December 10th -13th
Dubai Film Connection
December 12th
Interchange Projects Pitching Event
December 10th
Forum - Broadcasters Day
December 13th
Forum - Documentary Day
December 10th - 16th
Daily “How to sessions” 9.30 to 11.00
December 10th - 16th
Daily Networking sessions 16.30 to 18.00
The Team
Jane Williams - Director Dubai Film Connection & Forum
Pascal Diot - Manager Dubai Filmmart
In Focus
Fund for European Co-Productions selects Dubai International Film Festival to host 1st international meeting
Eurimages may open 129-year-old collaborative platform to Arab films
Didn'T Register Yet?
Didn't register yet to attend the Dubai Film Market?
Register now!
- 11/5/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Cert 15 / Region B / Running Time 121 mins
Robert De Niro’s 1993 directorial debut tells the story of Calogero Anello, the young son of morally strong bus driver Lorenzo Anello who is trying to bring his son up with a solid sense of right and wrong but living in the Bronx does’t make that an easy thing. After Calogero witnesses a shooting by local gangster Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) and does’t rat him out to the cops, young Calogero is taken under the wing of a gang leader and given an inside look at the world of the local crime scene.
As Calogero grows up the two father figures in his life struggle with each other’s mentoring of the teenager. Calogero himself begins to see the problems with his neighbourhood slim view of the world after he befriends a local black girl, Jane Williams (Taral Hicks) and as the racial...
Robert De Niro’s 1993 directorial debut tells the story of Calogero Anello, the young son of morally strong bus driver Lorenzo Anello who is trying to bring his son up with a solid sense of right and wrong but living in the Bronx does’t make that an easy thing. After Calogero witnesses a shooting by local gangster Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) and does’t rat him out to the cops, young Calogero is taken under the wing of a gang leader and given an inside look at the world of the local crime scene.
As Calogero grows up the two father figures in his life struggle with each other’s mentoring of the teenager. Calogero himself begins to see the problems with his neighbourhood slim view of the world after he befriends a local black girl, Jane Williams (Taral Hicks) and as the racial...
- 6/23/2012
- by Marcus Doidge
- Obsessed with Film
Robert De Niro attends 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca talks directors series with Robert De Niro and Brian Williams.Photo copyright Mohammed Kasim / PR Photos. Robert De Niro attends 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca talks directors series with Robert De Niro and Brian Williams.Photo copyright Mohammed Kasim / PR Photos. Robert De Niro attends 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca talks directors series with Robert De Niro and Brian Williams.Photo copyright Mohammed Kasim / PR Photos. Robert De Niro attends 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca talks directors series with Robert De Niro and Brian Williams.Photo copyright Mohammed Kasim / PR Photos. Brian Williams and Jane Williams attend 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca...
- 4/26/2011
- by Michelle Wray
- Monsters and Critics
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