Poland Amends Media Bill
WARSAW: The Polish Government has passed an amendment to the media bill which brings it up to European Union requirements.
The World is Big... Sells to North America
Berlin-based world sales company m-appeal (www.m-appeal.com) announced that it has closed a deal with Olive Film for the North American distribution rights of Stephan Komandarev's Bulgarian film The World is…
Walking Too Fast Gets Second Distribution Chance
Following its triumph at the Czech Lions on 5 March 2011, Walking Too Fast is returning to Czech cinemas. The political psychological thriller produced by rising Czech company Bionaut (www.bionaut.cz)…
Slovak AV Fund Appoints New Board President
BRATISLAVA: The Slovak Audiovisual Fund (www.avf.sk) has announced the appointment of Zuzana Gindl-Tatárová as president of its board. She was elected from among nine board members at the February 2011…
Essential Killing, Venice Dominate Polish Film Awards
Essential Killing directed by Jerzy Skolimowski and Venice by Jan Jakub Kolski each won four awards at the 13th Polish Film Awards:The Eagles during the celebratory gala in Warsaw on…
Malta Film Commissioner Resigns
The Malta Film Commissioner, Luisa Bonello, resigned for personal reasons, after four years in the post. She was replaced by Anthony Sammut, who will serve as acting Film Commissioner.
Romania Sets New Dates for Digital TV
BUCHAREST: The Ministry of Communications (www.mcsi.ro) has set the move to the terestrial digital television should to begin on 1 January 2013. The proposal was submitted for public debate at…
Croatian Audiovisual Industry Outlines Plans
Members of the Croatian audiovisual industry presented plans to the Croatian parliament at a 1 March 2011 meeting. Among the suggestions were a tax incentive programme and reviving national TV…
FESTIVALS: Hungarian Film Week Scheduled for May
BUDAPEST: After months of uncertainty the Hungarian Motion Picture Foundation (www.mmka.hu) and the Association of Hungarian Filmmakers announced on 1 March that the 42nd Hungarian Film Week will take place…
Radim Spacek’s Walking Too Fast Scoops Top Prizes at Czech Lions
PRAGUE: Radim Špaček's thriller about a Communist secret police agent was the clear winner at this year's Czech Lions (www.ceskylev.cz) sweeping the five top prizes including Best Film, Best Director,…
FESTIVALS: 12 Films Compete for Sofia Festival Grand Prix
Twelve films are competing in the main competition of the Sofia International Film Festival which runs 4-13 March 2011. For ninth consecutive year the Grand Prix Award will be handed…
Szyc Poised for Lead in Wajda Film
Polish media have reported that young Polish star Borys Szyc has been tapped to play the lead role in of Lech Walesa in Andrzej Wajda's biographical film about the head…
PRODUCTION: New Shooting Schedule for Puzzle for a Blind Man
BUCHAREST: Romanian director Andrei Zincă is expected to start shooting the adaptation of Argentinian playwright Mario Diament's Blind Datein May-June 2011, Bogdan Moncea, Marketing Manager of Castel Film (www.castelfilm.ro) told…
New Manager at Romania’s Kanal D
BUCHAREST: Haluk Kurcer has replaced Hatice Kolat as the general manager of the channel Kanal D (www.kanald.ro). Kolat had run the channel since February 2007, with a mandate until 2011.…
Romtelecom Buys Boom TV
Romania's Romtelecom has acquired DTH Television Grup at a price of 8 million euro. The purchase, which was finalized in late February, includes the digital satellite station Boom TV.
Bulgarian Cable TV Fined
Bulgarian cable operator Blizoo received a fine from the Commission for Protection of Competition, the Bulgarian office responsible for monopoly oversight. Blizoo is the country's leading cable company.
Tribeca Film picks up Essential Killing
Tribeca Film (www.tribecafilm.com/tribecafilm), the distribution branch of the Tribeca Film Festival, will distribute the Polish co-production Essential Killing in cinemas as well as other multimedia platforms. The company announced it…
Polish Eagles Announce Lifetime Award
Polish film director/screenwriter/producer Tadeusz Chmielewski will recieve the Polish Film Academy Award for Lifetime Achievements at the annual gala ceremony of the Polish Eagles (www.pnf.pl) on 7 March 2011 in…
Hungary Sets Broadband Goal
The Hungarian government laid out a plan for complete broadband coverage for the entire country. Hungary, with broadband access that reaches 80% of internet users, is already ahead of the…
PRODUCTION: September 11 in Preparation
BUCHAREST: Italian director Renzo Martinelli is preparing September 11, his second collaboration with the Romania's Castel Film (www.castelfilm.ro) starring American actor Harvey Keitel. Martinelli previously worked with Castel Film on…