News Corp considers pulling out of Central and Eastern Europe
News Corp has reportedly hired Lehman Brothers to study the company's holdings in Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, and Turkey with the intention of selling its holdings in the region.
Mundruczo to open Budapest cinema
Following the success of Delta (Cannes FIPRESCI prize and Lux Prize nomination), director Kornel Mundruczo and producer Viktoria Petranyi are lining up new film projects and leasing a Budapest art…
National Cinema Digitalization Program launches in Poland
The Polish Filmmakers Association (PFA) along with The Polish film Institute, the Ministry of Culture and the National Chamber of Audiovisual Producers has started working on the transfer to digital…
Lithuanian Radio and TV posts profits for 2007
Public broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT, www.lrt.lt ) reported net profits of LTL2,947 million (854,000 Euros) for 2007, compared with losses of 361,000 Euros in 2006.
Singing Bee picked up for Romania
ProTV Romania has commissioned rights to the format musical game show The Singing Bee, prrogramme distributor Zeal Entertainment announced on July 21.
Lodz Film Fund grants €3.1 million to six projects
The second edition of the Lodz competition for film projects promoting the city awarded €3.1 million to three documentaries, two features, and one short animation.
Director Harlin scouts Lithuania for Mannerheim film
Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2) has been scouting locations in Lithuania for a 10 million Euro film on the Finnish Marshall, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim.
Made in Hungaria begins shooting
Filming began on the adaptation of hit stage musical Made in Hungaria on July 16, and will continue through the end of summer.
New rules for TVP feature film funding
Public broadcaster Polish Television (TVP, www.tvp.pl) announced it will simplify the procedures for financing the cinema feature films and increase production funds.
Hungarian film support system confirmed by EU
On Wednesday, July 16, the European Committee accepted the Hungarian film law and film support modification without discussion, Culture and Education minister Istvan Hiller minister announced on Thursday morning at…
EC authorizes Latvian €43 million film support
The European Commission announced approval of a €43 million Latvian film support scheme through December, 2013. The scheme covers film development, production and distribution of Latvian and Eruopean films, with…
Two films in preparation for Uj Budapest Filmstudio
Caroline Strubbe's feature, the €2.2 million Lost Persons Area, started shooting on July 3 in Rotterdam where it continues photography for six weeks.
Jakubisko retrospective at Czech Summer Film School
Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko and producer/wife Deanna Jakubisko will present their box office hit Bathory at the 34th Summer Film School (LFS, www.lfs.cz) in Uherske Hradiste, July 25-August 3.
Expansion on Polish TV market
Nickelodeon Poland launched on July 10 via platforms including Astra, Multimedia Polska, UPC, and Vectra, part of MTV Networks International.
Mokep and Pannonia merger announced
National film distributor MOKEP (www.mokep.hu) and national animation film factory Pannonia Film Ltd. (/www.mediaguide.hu/pannoniafilm) are set to merge in September.
Balint Kenyeres chosen for Young Europeans project
European Film Award winner Balint Kenyeres will direct his feature length debut Yesterday for Zentropa's pan-european project (www.zentropa.dk), Young Europeans (www.youngeuropeans.info).
Gravehopping screens in Italy
Jan Cvitkovic's 2005 film Gravehopping bowed in Italian cinemas the first week of July. Distribution company SAP11 (www.sap11.com) are placing 10 copies of the film within the Italian territory.
EEAP announces sales in Poland, Slovakia
Eastern European Acquisitions Pool (EEAP) announced recent film package sales in Slovakia and Poland.
Producers Training session at IPIFF in Constanta
Two producers training programs offered by the New Producers Association as part of the Independent Producers International Film Festival (www.ipiff.ro) are aimed at helping Romanian filmmakers develop, finance, and package…
Bathory breaks Slovak box office records
Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko´s Bathory smashed Slovak film box office records with 35,925 viewers during the first four-day weekend. Results were announced by distribution company Bontonfilm.