Major Website Enhancement for JVC Professional Europe

JVC Professionals UK website: www.jvcpro.co.uk, has been upgraded and went live on 2 March 2004.

While JVC continually adds new features and content to its website, this is a major upgrade that cannot go unnoticed. The refreshing site displays a reorganised content page set to make the website a lot more user friendly and for information to be a lot easier to find.

The websites previous colours of red and mustard have been changed to blue and white making the visit to the site a considerably more enjoyable and more relaxing experience.

New features include:

· Latest products and news
· Flicker free Projection
· The Jerry Bruckheimer perfect theatre experience
· Speak to an Expert
· A dedicated security section
· A dedicated Computer Imaging area
· A dedicated Data Storage section
· A Meet us section

John Carpenter, General Manager Marketing Services, JVC Professional says, "The aim of the upgraded website is not only for aesthetic appeal but also to keep site visitors fully, and more clearly, informed. "

STAR WARS MAGAZINE
Issue #49

This month, Star Wars Magazine brings fans across the Star Wars universe interviews with The Phantom Menace star Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Star Wars make-up creator Stuart Freeborn. We study the new aliens introduced in Attack of the Clones, look into the world of invisible effects from The Phantom Menace and take you behind-the-scenes of the Star Wars animated micro series Clone Wars.

As always, SWM is packed with all the latest scoops – including an Episode III post-production update and exclusive new photos from the set, plus much, much more!
Don’t miss your free Darth Maul poster with this issue!

THE PHANTOM MENACE
Stuntman-turned-actor Ray Park, best known to Star Wars fans as Darth Maul, the demonic apprentice to Darth Sidious, chats to SWM about life before, during and after The Phantom Menace, plus he reveals the latest on his role as Danny Rand in the upcoming Marvel comic adaptation, Iron Fist.

ALIEN FACES
SWM talks to Star Wars make-up creator Stuart Freeborn to discover how he created the looks for some of the most famous faces in Star Wars: Episode IV, V & VI, including Chewbacca, Yoda and Jabba the Hutt.

THE ALIENS FROM ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Star Wars aliens have played on our affections, our fears and our imaginations for over a quarter of a century. SWM studies the new aliens introduced to the Star Wars universe in Attack of the Clones, including the giraffe-necked Kaminoans and the bug-like Geonosians.

INVISIBLE EFFECTS FROM THE PHANTOM MENACE
There’s a good argument that the most impressive effects are the ones not even the most keen-eyed viewers can detect. SWM looks into the world of invisible effects from The Phantom Menace.

MAKING THE CLONE WARS!
SWM visits the Cartoon Network headquarters to take you behind-the-scenes of the Star Wars animated micro series Clone Wars.

ALSO INCLUDED IN ISSUE #49
Rob Coleman: Behind the Magic
Set Piece: The Outlander Club
Comlink
Star Wars Q&A
Win Star Wars LEGO sets!
Plus, LOADS more!

GET IT DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR!
Subscribe to SWM by calling 0153 6764 646 or email: starwarssubs@titanemail.com, quoting reference P103.

ISSUE #49 ON SALE NOW!
ã Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

dreamwatch

Issue #115

In Issue #115, the ultra glossy dreamwatch magazine brings you interviews with Alias actor Michael Vartan (Michael Vaughn), Stargate SG-1 stars Michael Shanks (Dr Daniel Jackson) & Christopher Judge (Teal’c), Hellboy star Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Angel star David Boreanaz (Angel) and series creator/executive producer Joss Whedon.

We visit the Scooby-Doo 2 set to meet the cast and crew; director Jonathan Hensleigh gives us a preview of the latest Marvel comic-strip movie; The Punisher; newly announced Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson outlines his plans for the show’s revival, and writer/executive producer Karl Schaefer reveals all on the upcoming third season of The Dead Zone.

As always, dreamwatch is packed with all the latest scoops from the world of sci-fi and fantasy entertainment – including news that Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper has turned down the role as Detective Jim Gordon in the new Batman film, Beyonce Knowles confirms her interest in the new Superman movie and the original Star Wars trilogy gets its DVD release date, plus much, much more!

ANGEL
When Buffy spin-off Angel made its television debut in October 1999, no-one really knew if it would be a hit. But the series quickly established itself and recently reached its 100th episode. Series creator/executive producer Joss Whedon chats to dreamwatch about the past, present and future of Angel.
David Boreanaz who is in his eighth year playing Angel, tells us about the revamped fifth season and his directorial debut on Angel episode “Soul Purpose”. Plus, a full report on the show’s shock cancellation!

ALIAS STAR MICHAEL VARTAN INTERROGATED!
With the third season of Alias making its UK debut in March, dreamwatch talks to Michael Vartan, who plays CIA agent Michael Vaughn, about the action-packed season and finds out about his real life relationship with the show’s star, Jennifer Garner.

SCOOBY-DOO 2: SET VISIT!
dreamwatch visits the set of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and meets the cast and crew, including Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne), Matthew Lillard (Shaggy), Linda Cardellini (Velma) and director Raja Gosnell to find out what cinemagoers can expect from Scooby’s second live-action movie adventure.

STARGATE SG-1 : MICHAEL SHANKS & CHRISTOPHER JUDGE
Stargate SG-1 stars Michael Shanks (Dr Daniel Jackson) & Christopher Judge (Teal’c) reveal to dreamwatch how the new season is shaping up and what it’s like working with the newly promoted General Jack O’Neil.

HELLBOY
Mike Mignola’s popular comic-book saga Hellboy has been brought to the big screen with Ron Perlman in the title role. The prolific character actor tells dreamwatch about his long wait to play the demonic hero.

ALSO INCLUDED IN ISSUE #115
Head writer/executive producer David Greenwalt talks about the
cancellation of Jake 2.0
Star Trek: Enterprise’s Linda Blair (Hoshi Sato) outlines her characters development and reveals her thoughts on the character’s reduced screen time.
Battlestar Galactica’s Jamie Bamber (Captain Lee Adama) reveals what life is like aboard the re-imagined Galactica.
dreamwatch Hot Topic: Can Star Trek be saved?

PLUS: The very latest news, reviews and competitions

All this and much, much more in dreamwatch Issue#115!
ON SALE 26 FEB (UK) 16 MAR (US)

Get dreamwatch delivered to your door!
UK, call 01536 764646 or email dreamwatchsubs@titanemail.com.
US, call (1-877) 363-1310 or email expressmag@expressmag.com.
Please quote reference number P103.

Buffy issue#58

Well here it is, the one you’ve been begging, pleading and waiting for, the Spike issue! That’s right, we’re dedicating issue 58 of Buffy Magazine to the platinum enigma that was (in Buffy) and is (in Angel), Spike!

Printed in full Spike-o-rama, we have an interview with Spike actor James Marsters, a chance for you to test your Spike knowledge in our quiz and there’s a great Spike poster! The Glorious Clare Kramer joins us for a little Q&A as does Buffy Stuntwoman April Weedon-Washington, and we take a closer look at some of the Big Bads that Buffy has dealt with.

The Sunnydale Round-Up
In the Buffy news this month: Sarah Michelle Gellar’s decision on appearing in Angel, Alyson Hannigan makes her London West End debut in the stage version of When Harry Met Sally, and find out what the cast and crew are up to away from Sunnydale.

Marsters Class
From struggling New York actor, to founding two theatres and acting in over 70 plays, James Marsters has earned his stripes the hard way. We talk about life pre-Spike, resurrection on Angel and his current raison d’etre, his band, Ghost of the Robot.

Glory Hunter
Actress Clare Kramer tells us her feelings on body swapping and resurrecting Glory in Season Seven.

The Monster Hall of Fame
We take a season-by-season look at the many adversaries to have crossed Buffy’s path, taking in such luminaries as the follicly challenged Master in Season One, through Angelus, The Mayor, Dark Willow and finally, The First.

And there’s more…
Win a copy of the Best of Buffy DVD and a combination TV/DVD!
Meet Buffy stuntwoman and actress April Weedon-Washington!
‘Where are they now?’ – with Holden the Vampire (a.k.a. Jonathon Woodward)


Subscribe to Buffy and get the mag direct to your doorstep!
Subscribe to Buffy Magazine now and ensure that you never miss an issue of your fave mag by getting the magazine delivered directly to you! No more running down to the newsagents to grab your copy before they fly off the shelves! To subscribe, call 01536 764 646 or email buffysubs@titanemail.com quoting reference number P103.

Issue 58 of Buffy Magazine on sale 4 March!
Need an instant Buffy e-fix? To subscribe to the Buffy e-zine, simply send an email to: buffyezine@titanemail.com, writing ‘subscribe’ in the subject box.

Joan of Arc Screening at Imperial War Museum in March.

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
30 March, 7.00pm
Directed by Carl Theodore Dreyer. With live piano accompaniment and introduction by Professor Casper Tybjerg.
Tickets £7.50, FIWM, Concessions £6.00
Box Office 020 7416 5439 (weekdays 10.00am - 5.00pm)

AFTER SUCCESS WITH TOM CONTI MURDER DRAMA, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR MOVES TV AND MOVIE FICTION PRODUCERS CLOSER TO REALITY.

With 24,000 crime scene investigations behind him, including 500 deaths, forensic specialist Andy Johnson always believes he's seen it all - until the next one comes along.

So when he found himself shouting at the TV as yet another team of fictional big-booted detectives tromped through precious evidence in a crime drama murder scene, he declared enough was enough - and moved to provide real-life forensic expertise to film and TV producers.

Andy, 33, an active-duty crime scene investigator with a UK Police force for 13 years, has teamed up with fellow investigative experts to set up Pro-Forensic.com.

Based on experience of murder, rape, suicide, assault, kidnap and arson, the group provides intensely accurate and massively detailed advice and consultancy both to ensure accuracy and to create completely new ideas for book and scriptwriters, TV producers and filmmakers.

Andy's expertise was employed by the producers of DoNovAn, an ITV drama starring Tom Conti and Samantha Bond. An audience of 8 million viewers were gripped by the crime mystery - and witnessed forensic investigative detail never before seen on TV.

"But it meant another opportunity: as well as ensuring the on-set detail was right for the investigative strand of the programme, I was also consulted about what might be possible in terms of committing a crime, concealing a crime and solving a crime. My views on the possible, based on experience, helped create a whole new twist to the plot. That really gripped me - and got me thinking," said Andy.

"Crime scene investigation may be based on science and analysis, but there's also a great deal of creativity involved in picturing how the facts and evidence translate into the real actions of an offender which in turn can provide clues for the reasons behind a crime.

"Some TV and movie crime dramas are very well researched, but even the best fall well short of reality or possibility. I've advised on matters as diverse as how to 'twizzle' a fingerprint brush - through to how DNA might be transferred from one object or place to another so somebody can be framed.

"If the audience is fascinated by how fictional investigators get their man - or woman - they'd be utterly astonished as to how real-life investigators get their answers. A detective magically pronouncing his verdict after 20 minutes at a crime scene with battalions of people stomping around? Utter nonsense.

"TV and movie plots barely scratch the surface of possibility, whether in terms of the type of crime, the way it is carried out, the motive, the surrounding influences, how the evidence is treated or how the investigation unfolds."

The Pro-Forensic.com team comprises Andy and a number of other specialists, including pathologists to advise on how people have died, or fire investigators with massive experience of identifying how even the most cleverly concealed or disguised arsons are planned and committed.

Work Is More Evil than Voodoo

“Like many people, I regularly used to work 70 hour weeks with little or no time for my family” says Pratten. “I woke up one morning and just decided to do something completely different, something fantastic”.

At 35 years old and a successful, internationally recognized consultant to the telecoms industry, Pratten quit work in 2000 and started at the London Film School just a few yards from his former office. Now, four years on, he’s written, directed and produced his first feature film to tell others quit your job before it destroys you.

The film, London Voodoo, tells of an ambitious New York analyst that takes his family on a secondment to London, England and is forced to embrace voodoo to save his family from destruction. “This guy, like many others in real life, is working so hard he doesn’t notice the changes happening around him - life is just passing him by”

Pratten wrote the film during 2001, a time when police were investigating several ritualistic killings in London thought to be related to the practice of voodoo. Investigating for himself, Pratten discovered a religion that brought comfort to many people (estimated to be 60 million worldwide) and even found himself stripped naked as part of a local voodoo initiation.

“First and foremost, the film is made to entertain but if I can get just one person in the audience to leave the theatre and do something different with their life then I see that as a life saved – it’s not voodoo that’s evil, it’s our unwillingness to take a break from the office”

London Voodoo features Sweden's finest: Sven-Bertil Taube and Michael Nyqvist with an original soundtrack by Siouxsie & The Banshees’ songwriter and bassist, Steven Severin. Additional songs are provided by his new group Darling Hate (featuring songwriting partner and vocalist, Arban Ornelas).

The film premiers 10pm March 7th at Laemmle Fairfax cinema 7907 Beverly Blvd. (corner of Fairfax) in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA.

Other dates scheduled are 5pm March 14th at Fearless Tales Horror/Fantasy Festival in San Francisco and April 4th-11th at The World Horror Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

MONTY PYTHON TOPS BRIT-FLICK POLL

AMAZON.CO.UK & IMDB ANNOUNCE TOP 40 FAVOURITE BRITISH FILMS OF ALL TIME

Monty Python and the Holy Grail has been voted the Favourite British Film of all time – knocking Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange into second place with more than double the votes – in a poll conducted by Amazon.co.uk & the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) which coincided with the BAFTA awards on Sunday 15 February.

The film was the comfortable winner taking a quarter of the total votes in the poll of over 7000 people conducted by Amazon.co.uk and IMDB (www.imdb.com). The final list reveals the public’s 40 favourite British films ranging from old classics such as Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and The 39 Steps to more recent British comedies such as Love Actually (out on DVD 26 March and available for pre-order now with £10 off at Amazon.co.uk), Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Full Monty.

TOP 20 BRITISH FILMS OF ALL TIME

Film Year % of Votes

1 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 24.3
2 A Clockwork Orange (1971) 12.5
3 Trainspotting (1996) 7.5
4 Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 7.1
5 The Third Man (1949) 3.7
6 Shakespeare in Love (1998) 3.7
7 Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) 3.6
8 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) 3.2
9 Sense and Sensibility (1995) 3.2
10 Love Actually (2003) 3.0
11 Goldfinger (1964) 2.9
12 Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) 2.5
13 The Full Monty (1997) 1.7
14 Elizabeth (1998) 1.7
15 The Italian Job (1969) 1.7
16 The English Patient (1996) 1.6
17 Doctor Zhivago (1965) 1.3
18 Gandhi (1982) 1.2
19 Chariots of Fire (1981) 1.1
20 Withnail and I (1987) 0.9

FEATURED FILMS
The final list reflects the huge diversity of British films, with the top 20 featuring everything from gritty realism to surreal comedy; from majestic epics to spy films; and from classic war stories to classic Shakespeare.

“This survey demonstrates the eclectic nature of British films and here at Amazon.co.uk we aim to offer the biggest selection of these genre-spanning movies,” comments Mark Walker, DVD Product Manager at Amazon.co.uk. “I think the biggest surprise is the presence of two Monty Python films in the top 10. These films lead a strong field from the genre of The Great British Comedy – accompanied in the top 20 by recent films such as Love Actually, The Full Monty and Four Weddings and a Funeral."

British epics and war movies also dominate the list, with Lawrence of Arabia, The Third Man, The English Patient, Gandhi and Chariots of Fire all appearing in the top 20.

POLL SURPISES

Additional themes from the results include surprises relating to British cult classics in the list. The relatively low ranking of Withnail & I, clearly one of the biggest cult films to come out of the UK, is an especially big surprise. Perhaps equally surprising is the incredible ranking of A Clockwork Orange at number 2, possibly a consequence of the controversy surrounding the film and its subsequent delayed release after a 25-year ban.

007 – MISSING IN ACTION

Another notable surprise, given their universal appeal, is the presence of only one Bond film in the top 10 – though this is almost certainly down to votes being split between the films. The results may have been very different if the films had been grouped together as the Bond franchise for voting purposes. It's also surprising that no Carry On or Ealing films are included in the top 20.

RECOGNISING BRITISH FILMMAKING TALENT

However, on the eve of the BAFTAs and the Oscars, where this year British films have been largely overlooked in the nominations lists – Walker believes this poll serves as a reminder of the enormous talent of British filmmakers.

“The list alone shows that there is so much for the British film industry to hope for in the future – if it can look to replicate the elements which have been successful in British filmmaking in the past: great writing, masterful directing, unforgettable performances, and of course the eclectic British characters that makes many of the favourites so unique.”

AMAZON.CO.UK DVD SHOP

Amazon.co.uk's DVD shop (www.amazon.co.uk/dvd) is the place to find, discover and buy films online. It offers an easy and convenient way to shop, with fantastic prices, great choice and comprehensive product information. With low prices and at least 30% off bestselling DVD’s, the chance to pre-order forthcoming releases and free delivery on qualifying orders over £25, Amazon.co.uk is the place to buy all these great DVDs. Amazon customers can also watch all their favourite movies and find great offers on DVD players at amazon.co.uk/electronics.

Subtitling revolution arrives at your local cinema

A further seventy-eight cinemas in England will now be able to show subtitled screenings of the latest blockbuster and specialist films - marking a revolution for thousands of would-be cinema goers across the country.

RNID, the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK, welcomes today’s announcement by the UK Film Council, via its Cinema Access Programme, that seventy-eight cinemas have been successful in their application for funding towards the installation of captioning and audio description equipment.

The equipment will be available in one in seven of the country’s cinemas, and will enable people with sensory impairments to enjoy the latest mainstream and specialised films. Prior to this announcement, there were only twenty-two cinemas out of almost 700 cinemas in the UK that had subtitling equipment.

Dr John Low, Chief Executive of RNID, said “Deaf and hard of hearing people have been excluded from the enjoyment of cinema since the advent of the talkies back in the 1920’s. At a time when service providers are preparing for part III of the Disability Discrimination Act which comes into affect in October 2004, the installation of this equipment greatly expands access and choice for large numbers of deaf and visually impaired people.”

Peter Buckingham, Head of the UK Film Council's Distribution and Exhibition Fund said: "We want to help all sectors of the community to enjoy film which is such an important part of our culture. In the past, too many people with impaired sight and hearing have been cut off from the world of cinema. This pioneering new scheme will mean that they will able to enjoy films at the cinema, as well as the discussions afterwards, along with their friends and family."

International Celebration of Video Art

Winners of the Grand Prizes
for the 26th Tokyo Video Festival “TVF 2004”

Selected Video Grand Prize: Mr. Yoshihisa Ishizu, 41, of Ehime Prefecture for “Why Can’t I Do Sakaagari?”

JVC Grand Prize: Mr. Bertrand de Souza Lira, 45, of Brazil for
“Bom Dia, Maria de Nazaré!” (Good Morning, Maria de Nazaré!)

The 26th Tokyo Video Festival “TVF 2004,” sponsored by Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC), attracted record entries of 2,881 works from 36 countries and regions from around the world (938 works from Japan and 1,943 works from overseas; an increase of 21 percent from last year). From among the entries, 30 works won Excellence Award and 70 Selected Works were mentioned. After the final review, the Video Grand Prize and the JVC Grand Prize (one work for each prize) were selected from among the works that won Excellence Award, and the newly established High-definition Digital Video Camera Award (one work) was chosen from among the works that won Excellence Award or Selected
Work. In addition, three works were chosen for the People Awards from among the works that won Excellence Award by a popular vote on the Internet.

For the Video Grand Prize, Mr. Yoshihisa Ishizu (41)’s “Why Can’t I Do Sakaagari?” was selected.

Mr. Ishizu is a teacher of an elementary school in Ehime Prefecture in Japan. It is a record of a teacher (Mr. Ishizu), who was shocked to find that his pupils were unable to do the forward upward circling on the horizontal bar, undertaking to instruct them until all of his class could accomplish the circling. The heartwarming video vividly shows the pupils practicing while they encourage each other and devise various methods in their practice. Although the pupils were made to practice at first, they gradually began to practice voluntarily. The work was highly praised for looking at education from a new angle.

For the JVC Grand Prize, Mr. Bertrand de Souza Lira (45)’s “Bom Dia, Maria de Nazaré!” (Good Morning, Maria de Nazaré!) was chosen. Mr. de Souza Lira is a teacher from Brazil. The video
depicts how an FM radio station, set up in a poor community, draws the people in the community and spreads new and diverse modes of communication. Using the video media, the work captures the activities of a regional radio station that deals with the audio media. It was commended highly for showing how “the work of rebuilding a community and making a video production intertwined to bear rich fruits” (Mr. Susumu Hani).

The newly established High-definition Digital Video Camera Award went to Mr. Fumikazu Hatano (55) for his work “Land Close To The Sky-Traveling in Tibet in Summer”. Mr. Hatano is an office worker
from Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. The work takes full advantage of the high-definition and wide images (width-to-height ratio of 16:9) of the hi-definition image technology.

The People Awards, which were selected by popular vote on the Internet, went to Mr. Yoshihisa Ishizu (41) for “Why Can’t I Do Sakaagari?”, which also won the Video Grand Prize, Mr. Ryoichi Sato (50, self-employed from Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan) for “That Dam, Who Needs It!”, and Sebastián Talavera Serrano (Spain) for “Dueños De Nada” (Owners of Nothing).

STAR WARS MAGAZINE

Issue #49

This month, Star Wars Magazine brings fans across the Star Wars universe interviews with The Phantom Menace star Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Star Wars make-up creator Stuart Freeborn. We study the new aliens introduced in Attack of the Clones, look into the world of invisible effects from The Phantom Menace and take you behind-the-scenes of the Star Wars animated micro series Clone Wars.

As always, SWM is packed with all the latest scoops – including an Episode III post-production update and exclusive new photos from the set, plus much, much more!
Don’t miss your free Darth Maul poster with this issue!

THE PHANTOM MENACE
Stuntman-turned-actor Ray Park, best known to Star Wars fans as Darth Maul, the demonic apprentice to Darth Sidious, chats to SWM about life before, during and after The Phantom Menace, plus he reveals the latest on his role as Danny Rand in the upcoming Marvel comic adaptation, Iron Fist.

ALIEN FACES
SWM talks to Star Wars make-up creator Stuart Freeborn to discover how he created the looks for some of the most famous faces in Star Wars: Episode IV, V & VI, including Chewbacca, Yoda and Jabba the Hutt.

THE ALIENS FROM ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Star Wars aliens have played on our affections, our fears and our imaginations for over a quarter of a century. SWM studies the new aliens introduced to the Star Wars universe in Attack of the Clones, including the giraffe-necked Kaminoans and the bug-like Geonosians.

INVISIBLE EFFECTS FROM THE PHANTOM MENACE
There’s a good argument that the most impressive effects are the ones not even the most keen-eyed viewers can detect. SWM looks into the world of invisible effects from The Phantom Menace.

MAKING THE CLONE WARS!
SWM visits the Cartoon Network headquarters to take you behind-the-scenes of the Star Wars animated micro series Clone Wars.

ALSO INCLUDED IN ISSUE #49
Rob Coleman: Behind the Magic
Set Piece: The Outlander Club
Comlink
Star Wars Q&A
Win Star Wars LEGO sets!
Plus, LOADS more!

GET IT DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR!
Subscribe to SWM by calling 0153 6764 646 or email: starwarssubs@titanemail.com, quoting reference P103.

ISSUE #49 ON SALE NOW!
ã Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

DARING DIGITAL

The future stars of the UK’s billion pound games industry could emerge from a unique competition aimed at university students, Dare to be Digital 2004, which launches in Dundee this week.

Predicted as having "a major impact on the global games industry in the near future" by Richard Leinfellner, Vice President of Executive in charge of Production for leading games publisher Electronic Arts (EA), the annual Dare to be Digital competition is a joint venture between the University of Abertay Dundee, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Dundee City Council.

Open to students from across all Scottish Universities and Colleges of Art, teams made up of five students will be asked to submit a concept for a new and original computer game or educational entertainment product. Judging the competition will be a panel of leading industry experts, who will be looking for the most creative ideas and those that fulfil the greatest market potential. Teams who make it through will have only 10 weeks to present a finished digital prototype and business sales document which can be pitched to investors.

The six teams, who will work from Dundee and have access to the cutting edge facilities at the University of Abertay, will be paid on a weekly basis and supported by experienced industry specialists, who will offer technical, creative and business advice – mentors who are inaccessible to any student outside the Dare project.

Dundee is one of the UK’s most important games centres and is widely regarded as the home of the Scottish games industry, housing over half of the country’s companies in the area. The number of people employed in computer games development companies in Scotland is around 500 people with a collective turnover of £20m. Dundee employs over a quarter of the related Scottish workforce.

In an industry that complains of the lack of ‘real-world’ application where academic courses are concerned, the Dare to be Digital competition is seen as actively addressing this problem by successfully bridging the gap, with five new companies set up by Dare teams.

As testament to the strength of work produced by past entrants, team members from last year’s two winning teams - who produced the PC based role-playing game Demon Lore and multiple solution puzzle winning game Zoo Crew – were asked to present to EA staff at their headquarters in Chertsey and were hired on the spot. Other Dare ‘graduates’ are working with games companies in Dundee and throughout the UK.

Due to the high level of excellence generated by the competition over the last three years, two new sponsors have come on board for 2004, Microsoft and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, NESTA, which join BBC Scotland Interactive and NCR.

For the 2004 competition, Scottish students will be joined by entries from Ireland. The Irish entry is being co-ordinated by The Digital Hub. Previously Dare has had teams from Japan and Malaysia and organisers hope that this international feeder to the competition will encourage further interest from global partner universities in 2005.

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in Dundee in September, where teams will compete for a prize fund of £5000 as well as follow up-support to develop their prototype to commercial reality. An Endeavour Prize of £1000 will also be awarded to the team who has shown the most effort and progression.

Shona Cormack, the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Tayside, said:

"Dare to be Digital plays a leading role in supporting future talent for the digital and interactive industries and SET is delighted to have supported the competition through funding since its inception. The digital economy is a key component of Scotland's future. Ensuring there is a skill-base to allow this industry to thrive is a fundamental requirement and one we actively support in Tayside. The inclusion of international teams and the presence of judges from companies such as Electronic Arts and the BBC are welcome developments that confirms the value of this innovative competition."

As part of the launch, Dare to be Digital will be visiting Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen throughout February and March, where students will be able to find out more, meet with some of last year's teams, hear from BBC Scotland and have the chance to win an Xbox, and other prizes donated by Microsoft. Students wishing to attend one of these events should visit www.daretobedigital.com

ELSPA, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, announced last month of the continued buoyant growth in the UK computer and video games market. UK sales of leisure software products reached an all time high in 2003, with values reaching £1.26 billion, an increase of 7.1 per cent over the previous year.

Entries close on 19th April. Dare to be Digital will be visiting the following cities–

Monday 16th February, Glasgow, The Lighthouse 4 - 5.30pm

Tuesday 25th February, Edinburgh, Royal Museum of Scotland 4 - 5.30pm

Wednesday 3rd March, Aberdeen, Hog’s Head 12 - 1.30pm

JVC Launches New Cost Effective Studio Camera

The KY-F560 is JVC Professional's latest compact and high quality general purpose camera. With the help of a few accessories the lightweight (900g) KY-F560 becomes an efficient and cost effective studio camera for those in a space restricted environment.

The compact sized camera incorporates 3 x ½" progressive scan CCD chips offering 440,000 effective pixels and has wide screen capability. The KY-F560's high quality images are greatly enhanced by the 12-bit Digital Signal Processing (DSP). The KY-F560 produces 850 lines of horizontal resolution with a high sensitivity of F13 at 2,000 lux and will produce 100 percent video in a minimum illumination of F1.4 at 0.5 lux. The camera is fully compatible with all JVC KY-F32 series options including ½" bayonet lenses.

Optional boards allow for expandability of the camera, like SDI output. The camera has composite output and Gen-lock in-put. A remote system is available with optional PTZ kit. The KY-F560 has a signal to noise ratio of 62dB. Power requirements for the KY-F560 are 12V DC with the camera only power consumption being 0.7A.

Nick Fletcher, Marketing Services said "We are expecting the compact KY-F560 to be a very popular camera. We are finding that production companies are moving away from the large bulky studio cameras of yesteryear and are now preferring to invest in smaller, more flexible camera heads offering SDI and component video."

ONLINE DVD RENTAL BROADENS MOVIE VIEWING HABITS

Over 15,500 unique titles currently on order by screenselect.co.uk
subscribers

Figures released by screenselect.co.uk today shows that online DVD rental is changing viewing habits and opening up new audiences for film and documentary makers. Screenselect.co.uk has revealed that its subscribers currently have over 15,500 individual titles on order. This compares to the average video high street rental store, which carries only a fraction of this at around 2,000 titles , with the majority being geared towards blockbuster hits.

With the largest selection of DVDs in the UK, screenselect.co.uk offers its subscribers every single DVD available or rental. According to managing director William Reeve, screenselect.co.uk has deliberately steered away from the lowest common denominator approach offered by video rental chains. "By working on the assumption that only the blockbusters will find an audience, the video rental industry is leaving a large number of filmed entertainment fans not being catered for.

“In fact the whole way the industry is set up is leading customers to be conservative with their rental choices. If every movie you walk out the door with is costing you £3.50 and it has to be back in 24 hours, then you will probably play it safe.

“By comparison, with our £14.99 monthly subscription you can watch as many DVDs as you like and keep them for as long as you wish. Though the latest Hollywood hits are obviously as popular as ever, we are also finding that our subscribers are taking advantage of our unrivalled selection of titles and experimenting with their selections.”

Screenselect.co.uk currently offersover 17,000 unique titles and is
adding hundreds more every month.. The 15,500 titles on customers’ wish lists, represents 91% of that total, and spans the whole range of DVDs on offer including art-house films, documentaries, music concerts, sitcoms, children’s titles and mainstream box office hits.

A number of screenselect.co.uk subscribers currently have over 1,000 titles in their selections, with one subscriber at over 1100 titles on order. If that subscriber watched one DVD a night, it would take him over three years to get through all the titles he wanted to watch – assuming he didn’t add anything to his wish list during that period!

Online DVD rental was pioneered as a concept in the US by Netflix,
which has over 1.5 million subscribers. Netflix regularly accounts for over 10% of all DVD rentals for major independent films.
Screenselect.co.uk subscribers currently have more titles in their
selections, than Netflix claims to have in their library (15,000).

THE BAFTA/ROCLIFFE NEW FILM FORUM

Wednesday 25 FEBRUARY 2004 6.15 pm start

in support of MediCinema

PRESENTATION BY EALING STUDIOS & FILM FOUR LAB

SCREENINGS OF PERFECT – BUBBLEGUM – AT DAWNING

PROGRAMME COMPILED BY DAWN SHARPLESS OF DAZZLE FILMS

PANEL TO INCLUDE RANKIN, LAURA HASTINGS-SMITH, MARTIN JONES, MAGGIE ELLIS, SAM BAKHURST, LEA MOREMENT, KATE PENLINGON

This event will be BIGGER and BETTER than the last

Comprising a rehearsed reading of an early draft of three acclaimed, award-winning short films, followed by a screening of each of the films, and a discussion with the writers, directors and producers.

Confirmed Market Place exhibitors to include Fuji, Kodak, Lipsync Post, Arista, British Council, NPA, Curzon Cinema, Panavision, Lee Lighting, Genesis Cinema, VMI, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ealing Studios, VTR, Variety, Raindance, Soho Images, First 4 Media, London Film Academy, Movietech, Osborne Clarke and Bradford Film Festival

Tickets available for non-Bafta members. Email events@bafta.org to reserve your ticket

"The Rocliffe New Film Forum is a fantastic way for film-makers to share their knowledge and experience. I wish it had been around when I started making shorts" Alex Lewis, Producer, Whatever Pictures

"The Rocliffe Forums are a superb resource in which to improve writing and directing skills and network with some of the best new UK filmmaking talent" Dan Clark, Emerging Filmmakers Manager, Kodak UK

"It was great to be able to network and share information with such a varied group of emerging and existing UK talent" Alasdair MacCuish, Senior Producer, LipSync Post

"The New Film Forum is a commendable initiative that should be seen as a valuable industry resource" Lloyd Billing, Sound-Effects-Library.com

Fight Circle

Slowly but surely films are getting produced and distributed through the internet and Fight Circle is the latest example of this trend.

America's first feature-length martial arts film with worldwide premiere solely via the internet, hit computer monitors on February 04, 2004 at 2:04pm.

Fight Circle is a medieval martial arts film that follows a young woman, Paky, as she maneuvers her way into a male-centered fight arena where, ultimately, the victor determines life or death for the defeated.

banzai! Entertainment Inc is premiering Fight Circle via the internet only. Customers can visit the website to view the trailer and read the latest background on the characters, actors, cast and crew.

To order the movie, people will pay $7.00 to view the film online via streaming video. The movie is broken down into nine chapters each lasting approximately ten minutes. Fight Circle's unique purchasing options offer viewers maximum flexibility in how they choose to watch the movie. Viewers may watch the entire movie up to two times, or they may view it once in its entirety and then review their favorite chapters several times.

banzai! is excited by this new avenue for release as it gives all filmmakers an ability to have their work delivered to the general public in a cost-effective manner. banzai! is promoting Fight Circle through an online advertising campaign with banner ads appearing
on gaming sites such as mmorpg.com, keenspot.com and mpogd.com; on movie review sites; and in print magazines such as Movie Maker. banzai!'s promotional campaign is aimed at creating the first successful feature-length premiere on the internet.

"We believe in this movie and in banzai!'s unique approach to distribution. We think Fight Circle will stand up to many multi-million dollar films that have been given a full-fledged
theatrical release," says Donald Whittier, producer and director of Fight Circle.

Visit fightcircle.com to download images and clips of the film, learn more about the story, and meet its cast and crew.

dreamwatch Issue #114
In Issue 114, dreamwatch brings you interviews with Angel star James Marsters (Spike), Smallvillle’s Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Alias newcomer Melissa George (Lauren Reed), Star Trek: Enterprise’s John Billingsley (Doctor Phlox), Hellboy comic creator Mike Mignola, Jake 2.0 actress Keegan Connor Tracey (Dr Diane Hughes) and Stargate SG-1’s Teryl Rothery (Dr Janet Fraiser).

We chat to writer Ronald D. Moore and executive producer David Eick about the new Battlestar Galactica mini-series, we quiz hot young American actress Amy Smart on her new movie, The Butterfly Effect, which also stars Ashton Kutcher, we go behind the scenes during the filming of the Star Trek: Enterprise episode “Doctor’s Orders” and we examine Sci-Fi’s 10 most jaw-dropping Cliffhangers.

As always, dreamwatch is packed with all the latest scoops from the world of sci-fi and fantasy entertainment – including Mike Newell, director of Four Wedding and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco and Mona Lisa Smile, on the fourth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the latest on Stargate SG1’s upcoming eighth season and the new spin off show, Stargate Atlantis and the movie version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, plus much, much more!

JAMES MARSTERS
dreamwatch catches up with actor James Marsters, best known to Buffy and Angel fans as Spike, the ultimate bad boy vampire, to discuss moving across to Angel from Buffy. He reveals why he is having far more fun than he did working on Buffy!

SMALLVILLE’S CLARK KENT: TOM WELLING
Model turned actor Tom Welling, discusses with dreamwatch life as the young Man of Steel and reveals exclusive news on the third series.

ALIAS: MELISSA GEORGE
Alias newcomer Lauren Reed initially looked like a victim of circumstance, but viewers are discovering that there’s a dangerous side to her character as season three unfolds. dreamwatch tracks down Australian actress Melissa George to chat about life on Alias.

STARGATE SG-1: TERYL ROTHERY
Teryl Rothery, who plays Dr Janet Fraiser on Stargate SG-1, tells dreamwatch about her final adventure in the epic two-part episode “Heroes” and reveals her personal Stargate SG-1 highlights.

HELLBOY: MIKE MIGNOLA
Mike Mignola, creator of the Hellboy comic-book saga - which follows the adventures of a demon who is summoned from hell by Nazis, but raised to be a hero - gives dreamwatch a sneak preview on the hotly-tipped movie adaptation and reveals all on the casting of Ron Perlman, who beat the likes of Nic Cage, Vin Diesel and The Rock for the role as Hellboy.

ENTERPRISE: JOHN BILLINGSLEY + SET VISIT
dreamwatch chats to John Billingsley, who plays Doctor Phlox on Star Trek: Enterprise, about the under fire Star Trek franchise and reveals his thoughts on the new revamped action-packed third season. Plus, dreamwatch goes behind the scenes during the filming of Star Trek: Enterprise episode “Doctor’s Orders”.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RONALD D. MOORE, DAVID EICK & TOM DESANTO
Battlestar Galactica has been remade as a new mini-series, which revises and retells the events of the original show’s opening tale. Writer Ronald D. Moore and executive producer David Eick outline to dreamwatch their vision for the new mini-series, including the controversial decision to re-image Starbuck - the viper pilot played by Dirk Benedict in the original show – as a woman, Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace.
X-Men movie producer Tom DeSanto tells dreamwatch how he and Usual Suspects and X-Men director Bryan Singer were set to launch a Battlestar Galactica series that continued the originals show’s storyline, with Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch and Herb Jefferson reprising their original roles.

ALSO INCLUDED IN ISSUE #114
Actress Keegan Connor Tracey, who plays scientist Diane Hughes, tells dreamwatch about life in Jake 2.0
dreamwatch quizzes hot young American actress Amy Smart about her new movie, The Butterfly Effect, which also stars Ashton Kutcher.
dreamwatch reveals Sci-Fi’s 10 most jaw-dropping Cliffhangers.
dreamwatch goes behind the scenes during the filming of Star Trek: Enterprise episode “Doctor’s Orders”.

PLUS: The very latest news, reviews and competitions

All this and much, much more in dreamwatch Issue#114!
ON SALE 29 JAN (UK) 17 FEB (US)

Get dreamwatch delivered to your door!
UK, call 01536 764646 or email dreamwatchsubs@titanemail.com.
US, call (1-877) 363-1310 or email expressmag@expressmag.com.
Please quote reference number P103.

Buffy issue#57
Hop aboard the Sunnydale tunnel of love, for the very special Valentines issue of Buffy Magazine (on sale 5 February)! We look at the romantic side of the Scoobies and set our pulses racing as we rate the top ten Buffy kisses! Juliet Landau discusses her time as Spike’s paramour Dru, Amber Benson tells us about her new ventures and Joss Whedon talks about his projects – past, present and future!

FREE SUPPLEMENT!
Buffy & Angel Guide to Romance
In the second of our two free supplements (the first can be bought with Angel Magazine#7), featured relationships include Buffy’s first lesbian couple, Willow and Tara, a true case of opposites attract with Buffy and Spike, and the doomed love of Cordelia and Angel. Plus, if you’re looking for lurve on the Hellmouth then check out our classifieds!

Dru Life
The actress behind twisted vamp Drusilla, Juliet Landau, regales us with tales of her time on Buffy and Angel.

Preserved in Amber
Amber Benson talks about her film project Chance and reveals why so many of the Buffy cast and crew are listed in the credits. Plus find out about her next project – in England!

What Now?
When Joss Whedon appeared at the San Diego Comic Con., we were among the 2000 fans to hear him talk about Buffy and Angel. Find out what he had to say about the all-important Buffy spin offs!

Heart Felt
As if Sunnydale teens don’t have enough to take care of, what with the Hellmouth and all, there’s also the trials and tribulations of love to cope with! Our feature looks at the loves of the Scooby gang – the good, the bad and the bizarre! We also rate our top ten Buffy smooches, from Willow and Xander’s long awaited kiss, to Giles and Joyce’s teenage make out!

And there’s more…
Whatever happened to Kendra, our favourite Jamaican slayer, a.k.a. Bianca Lawson?
Spike – now and then
News on all of the Buffy cast and crew!

Subscribe to Buffy and get the mag direct to your doorstep!
Subscribe to Buffy Magazine now and ensure that you never miss an issue of your fave mag by getting the magazine delivered directly to you! No more running down to the newsagents to grab your copy before they fly off the shelves! To subscribe, call 01536 764 646 or email buffysubs@titanemail.com quoting reference number P103.

Issue 57 of Buffy Magazine on sale 5 February!
Need an instant Buffy e-fix? To subscribe to the Buffy e-zine, simply send an email to: buffyezine@titanemail.com, writing ‘subscribe’ in the subject box.

Angel Magazine 7 on sale now!
Don’t forget to pick up issue 7 of Angel Magazine for the first part of our Buffy and Angel guide to romance! There’s also an interview with James Marsters, talking about Spike’s LA relocation, we go behind the scenes of new Angel episode “Unleashed” to meet the new werewolf on the block and experience a day in the life of the Angel costume department!

The ‘Great Directors’ Mobile Film Series

UltraShort Media Inc. (www.UltraShortMedia.com) announced today that it has agreed with F.A.M.E. Entertainment (www.memimiracle.com) to produce and distribute a series of 2-minute films created especially for viewing on mobile telephones. F.A.M.E. Entertainment will produce the films for UltraShort Media, Inc. The films will be made available to consumers over mFlix, the mobile phone entertainment channel, which Ultrashort Media licenses to BigDigit, Inc. (www.bigdigit.com). BigDigit, Inc. is the producer of well-known mobile media events known as 'The World's Smallest Mobile Media Festivals’, which are hosted by the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE); the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA); and London's Mobile Commerce World, among others. See www.bigdigit.com/natpe.htm .

John Daly, CEO and Chairman of F.A.M.E. Entertainment, has been responsible for achieving twenty-one (21) Oscar nominations, thirteen (13) Oscars and won an unprecedented back-to-back Best Picture Oscars for “Platoon” and “The Last Emperor” for his company. In addition his films have won numerous Golden Globes, Cannes Film Festival awards (twice), Berlin Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, Houston Film Festival and many other prizes that have been associated with John Daly over his career in the film industry. Daly’s films have grossed in excess of $1 ½ billion dollars and he established a reputation for making and promoting daring break- through films and giving important career starts working with many of the world’s leading directors.
Among these directors are James Cameron (“Terminator”), Oliver Stone (“Salvador”, “Platoon”), Mick Jackson (“The Bodyguard”), Martin Campbell (“Criminal Law”), Michael Apted (“Triple Echo”). "We are very excited about this opportunity to merge Hollywood's most creative directorial talent with that of new emerging artists in order to create compelling content that the public will want to see, and to work with UltraShort Media in this challenging new medium", said John Daily, CEO of F.A.M.E. Entertainment.

Mobile phone usage has skyrocketed in recent years with more than 138 million Americans currently owning mobile phones and that number increasing dramatically year over year. Worldwide there are more than 1.3 billion mobile handsets in use.

‘The availability of The Great Directors Mobile Film Series will be of significant interest to consumers looking for a reason to upgrade their mobile devices and service plans, and of course to mobile telephone companies who will differentiate themselves in the market partly from the availability of content made by recognizable directors such as those in our lineup.' said Ultrashort Media CEO Beau Buck. 'In conjunction with the extensive library of mobile films available on an ongoing basis via BigDigit’s ‘World’s Smallest Mobile Media Festivals’, movie lovers have even more reason to be excited. Subscribers to the mFlix mobile channel will have exclusive access to these gems'.

The mFlix channel will begin rolling out this spring in association with major mobile telephone companies and other distribution channels worldwide.

The Great Directors Mobile Film Series production slate calls for a series of 2-minute films to be created specifically for mobile by some of Hollywood's most creative and established directors, as well as by emerging new directors. The series categories are drama, action, comedy, sci-fi/fantasy.

Ticket to stardom - bollyidol

An exciting opportunity for talented young people to star in a Bollywood musical in the new year.

Open auditions for a brand new Bollywood musical:
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March 2004 at Lounge One, Leicester.

YOUR chance to sparkle

Do you have the talent, commitment and determination to make your dreams of stardom come true with BollyIdol? Calling all upcoming actors, dancers, singers, comedians, musicians, producers, and costume and jewellery designers! This is YOUR ticket to stardom.

May 2004 marks a special time for young talent to dazzle in the limelight at prestigious venues including the Y Theatre in Leicester and the Watermans in London. The producers of sparkling Bollywood musical 'Precious Bazaar' are looking for a cast of 5 female and 3 male, who can act, dance or sing, a new Asian comedian, Bollywood style music producers, a costume
and a jewellery designer.

Auditions for the cast will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March at Lounge One in Leicester. A panel of mainstream Asian celebrities will judge the entrants. The judges will shortlist 24 of the best talent (3 entrants per character) who will be filmed again for an online vote at BBC Leicester.

Precious Bazaar is opens at the Y Theatre in Leicester on Tuesday 04 May and runs until Friday 07 May 2004. The production moves to Watermans in London for four nights from Thursday 13 May until Sunday 16 May 2004.

Rehearsals will take place in Leicester and are scheduled for weekends and evenings during April 2004.

Your next step: To secure your place at the auditions in March, download an application pack from the BollyIdol website. Complete and submit it with your recent photograph.

More information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bollyidol

RHODES HOSTS THE FOURTH ANNUAL ECOCINEMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Greek island of Rhodes is to play host to the 4th annual Ecocinema International Film Festival from 1st - 6th June 2004.

The festival, which will take place at the Municipality Public Theatre in Rhodes Town, is devoted to environmental cinema and invites documentaries, shorts and feature films with environmental and ecology themes.

Entries come from around the world including Europe, Australia, Asia and the USA, where they are viewed by a pre-selection committee before being reaching the festival. The deadline for 2004 entries is 1st March. Once selections have been made, all competing directors will take part in press conferences and question and answer sessions before and after the screening of their film.

Ecocinema is dedicated to encouraging conservation issues and issues related to the natural, human and built environment. Prizes are given to films which demonstrate an innovative approach to conservation issues, as well as for their overall artistic qualities.

One of the key aims of the festival is to create a web of professionals associated in the production of environmental and ecological films. The aim is to ensure the survival of these types of films; film sales have been conducted by representatives at previous festivals.

For more information about the 2004 festival or for an entry form, visit www.ecocinema.gr and for more information about the island of Rhodes visit www.rodosisland.gr

Shooting Stars 2004

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION PRESENTS
TOMORROW’S STARS TODAY

6 FEBRUARY - 8 FEBRUARY 2004
AT THE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Prepare to be dazzled - the next generation of European movie stars are stepping into the spotlight…

Shooting Stars - the initiative run by the European Film Promotion, which is mainly financed by the MEDIA programme of the EU - will spotlight the hottest new acting talent in Europe at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival.

A series of special events will take place at the opening weekend of the festival to focus the attention of the film industry on tomorrow’s young acting stars, today. The Shooting Stars are those actors and actresses nominated by EFP member organisations who have demonstrated considerable talent and presence in their projects to date - and are now tipped to
become international stars of the future.

The talent of the Shooting Stars will be recognised by the industry with the presentation of the Studio Hamburg Shooting Stars Award, handed out by the Berlin International Film Festival Director Dieter Kosslick on stage of the Berlinale Palast.

German Shooting Star 2003 and European Film Award Winner 2003 (Best Actor & Public Award for best acting), Daniel Brûhl (Good Bye, Lenin!), says “Shooting Stars really helped me to gain the first step on the international platform. It put me, so to speak, in the right place at the right time.”

Shooting Stars 2004 is supported by Volkswagen, the main partner of the Berlin International Film Festival. As well as supporting the project financially, Volkswagen will also be providing cars for the Shooting Stars.

PRESENTING THE 2004 SHOOTING STARS

AUSTRIA - GEORG FRIEDRICH
Nominated by: Austrian Film Commission
Key Films: Dog Days (2001), The Piano Teacher (2000)
BELGIUM - LUBNA AZABAL
Nominated by: Wallonie Bruxelles Images
Key Films: Exils (2003), Viva Laldjérie (2002)
CZECH REPUBLIC - ANA GEISLEROVÁ
Nominated by: Czech Film Center
Key Films: Supertex (2003), England (2000)
DENMARK - SONJA RICHTER
Nominated by: Danish Film Institute
Key Films: Open Hearts (2004), In Your Hands (2003)
FINLAND - IRINA BJÖRKLUND
Nominated by: Finnish Film Foundation
Key Films: Honey Baby (2004), Land of Love (2003)
FRANCE - ZOÉ FÉLIX
Nominated by: Unifrance
Key Films: La Beuze (2003), French Men (2002)
GERMANY - MARIA SIMON
Nominated by: Export-Union of German Cinema
Key films: Goodbye, Lenin! (2003), Lichter (2003)
GREECE - ALEXANDRA AIDINI
Nominated by: Greek Film Centre
Key Films: The Weeping Meadow (2003), Wrong Century (2000)
HUNGARY - ESZTER ÓNODI
Nominated by: Magyar Filmunió
Key Films: Hukkle (2001), A Kind of America (2001)
ICELAND - TOMAS LEMARQUIS
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
Key Films: Noi the Albino (2003), Dramarama (2001)
IRELAND - ANDREW SCOTT
Nominated by: Irish Film Board
Key Films: Dead Bodies (2003), Saving Private Ryan (1998)
ITALY - FILIPPO NIGRO
Nominated by: Filmitalia
Key Films: A Luci Spente (2003), Facing Window (2002)
LATVIA - KRISTINE NEVARAUSKA
Nominated by: Baltic Films
Key Films: You’re Sexy When You’re Sad (2004), Handful of Bullets (2002)
LUXEMBOURG - TOM LEICK
Nominated by: Film Fund Luxembourg
Key Films: The Merchant of Venice (2004), The Emperor’s Wife (2002)
NORWAY - AKSEL HENNIE
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Key Films: Wolf Summer (2003), Buddy (2003)
PORTUGAL - ÂNGELO TORRES
Nominated by: Instituto do Cinema Audiovisual e Multimédia (ICAM)
Key Films: Fado Blues (2003), Preto e Branco (2002)
SPAIN - ELENA ANAYA
Nominated by: Instituto de la Cinematografia y de Las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
Key Films: Talk to Her (2002), Sex and Lucia (2001)
SWEDEN - ANDREAS WILSON
Nominated by: Swedish Film Institute
Key Films: Evil (2003)
SWITZERLAND - MICHAEL KOCH
Nominated by: Swiss Films
Key Films: Ready, Steady, Charlie! (2003)
THE NETHERLANDS - THEKLA REUTEN
Nominated by: Holland Film
Key Films: Rosenstraße (2003), Twin Sisters (2002)
UNITED KINGDOM - EVA BIRTHISTLE
Nominated by: British Council
Key Films: Ae Fond Kiss (2004), Timbuktu (2003)

For more details visit: www.efp-online.com

Alex Cox/Hurricane Films BBC Schools film

BBC Children’s Education recently commissioned award-winning production company, Hurricane Films, to make a 30-minute drama from feature director Alex Cox, (best known for Repo Man and more recently Revenger’s Tragedy).

The film, I’m a Juvenile Delinquent - Jail Me! was transmitted on 15th January 2004.

The film throws the spotlight on reality television, using it as a model to help young people think about how they take control of their own lives. For broadcast in the BBC Schools overnight Learning Zone slot, the drama focuses on a group of fifteen year-olds who are manipulated into committing crimes for a TV audience hungry for more and more outrage on screen, the ultimate in bad reality television. Aimed at 14-16 year olds, it is to be viewed with guidance from a teacher who can lead a debate on the issues raised.

BBC Schools Commissioner, Karen Johnson, says: This modern morality play continues BBC education’s strong support for Citizenship issues, in the same vein as the BAFTA award-winning Offside. We look at a world in which questions about empowerment, control and manipulation are addressed, allowing teachers and pupils to debate where power lies in an apparently free society. Set in the frothy/lightweight context of teen life, the drama offers different views of free choice and determinism, to inform and enrich classroom debate about our own rights and responsibilities - and ramifications of the choices we make on behalf of other people, as well as ourselves.”

Producer Sol Papadopoulos, whose last drama for the department - Dead Drunk - won an RTS Education Award in June 2003, commented: “Jail me! is a powerful spoof about social responsibility and the impact of reality TV on a young audience. The film will undoubtedly generate lengthy discussion and I’m sure young people will appreciate Alex’s take on the world.”

JAMES BOND: THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN

By Ian Fleming, James Lawrence & Yaroslav Horak

BOND IS BACK — FROM THE DEAD!

Bond is back! After 10 years out of print, Titan Books is proud to present the return of the world’s greatest secret agent, in a classic adventure!

James Bond is dead! Or so his employers at MI5 believe... until he attempts to assassinate his boss, M — because he’s been brainwashed by the KGB! With his conditioning removed, M sends Bond on a deadly mission: to track down the sadistic killer Francisco Scaramanga — ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’!

This collection also includes The Living Daylights, which finds a melancholy Bond facing another sharpshooter – a KGB sniper. Set across the jagged scar of the Berlin Wall, Bond’s finger is on the trigger… and into his sights walks a beautiful blonde musician!

€ The first collection in an all-new Titan series of deluxe James Bond collectors’ paperback library editions. This collection also includes an introduction by Ian Fleming’s niece, Lucy Fleming.

€ James Bond is one of the most successful characters in movie history, with 20 smash-hit movies to date. Die Another Day, the most recent James Bond film, took over £30 million in its opening weekend — the best ever for a Bond movie!

€ The James Bond newspaper strips will appeal to fans of 007 and comics historians alike.

TITAN BOOKS – PAPERBACK – 27 FEBRUARY 2004 - £10.99

JVC announces what's on display at Video Forum 2004

JVC Professional Europe will demonstrate the latest in digital image technology at this year's Video Forum 2004. Showcasing Professional DV and HD camcorders, Professional DV VTRs as well as high resolution LCD and plasma monitors. These products will address every aspect of professional requirements, from acquisition and production, to display and presentation for the broadcast, professional and industrial markets.

The popular JVC DR-DV5000E, removable hard disk video recorder will also be at this years show. This dockable / stand-alone portable unit easily integrates with the GY-DV5001E Professional DV camcorder for over 4 ½ hours of recording time. Other professional JVC camcorders on display at this year's Video Forum include the GY-DV5000 and GY-DV550.

The new professional HD camcorder, the JY-HD10, offering seamless transition from SD to HD, will be at the show. The JY-HD10 is the new HD camera from JVC that is set to expand the boundaries of digital cinematography and broaden creative opportunities in the broadcast, film, news, streaming, commercials and business communities. A JY-HD10 will be on offer as a prize for a lucky visitor to this year's Video Forum 2004.

To complete the product line-up at Video Forum, JVC has extended even further its monitor line-up with the introduction of two new high-resolution 50-inch and 42-inch plasma screens and new flat 15" and 17" LCD monitors.

JVC products can be seen on stand VF450 at Video Forum 2004.

Visit: www.jvcproeurope.com

Best & Worst Film Critics of 2003

While the nation’s film critics have completed their best and worst movie lists for 2003, Herb Kane’s Criticdoctor.com website (a site specializing in reviewing film critics) is releasing his first annual list rating the critics themselves called “Critic Doctor’s Top 10 Best & Worst Film Critics of 2003.”

Film critic Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) was beat out by Nell Minow (The Movie Mom / Yahoo! Movies) for the #1 best critic position. Kane picked Minow primarily for her favorable review of “Bringing Down the House” (Touchstone). “The movie’s racial comedy made it the most misunderstood film of 2003,” said Kane. “Minow defended the movie perfectly. She understood the movie debunked racism by making fun of racists.”

Earl Dittman (Wireless Magazine) took honors for the #1 spot on the worst list while film critic Leonard Maltin ranked #10. Kane said he bases the list on his “Critic Doctor Is In!” column and analyzing some critic Top 10 lists. “It’s all in good fun,” said Kane, “and I don’t take myself too seriously.” He even included his own website critic, Peter Sobczynski (a member of Chicago Film Critics Association), on the worst list. “It takes just one very good or bad review to land on a list if it has a lasting impression on me. Most of the critics on both lists are talented writers.”

The Best of 2003:

#1 Nell Minow (Yahoo! Movies), #2 Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times), #3 Neil Cavuto (foxnews.com), #4 James Berardinelli (reelviews.net), #5 Holly McClure crosswalk.com), #6 Mark Ramsey (moviejuice.com), #7 Rob Blackwelder (splicedwire.com), #8 Mark Sells (filmthreat.com), #9 Nick Digilio (WGN Radio 720), #10 Scott Weinberg (efilmcritic.com).

The Worst of 2003:

#1 Earl Dittman (Wireless Magazine), #2 David Poland (thehotbutton.com), #3 Matthew Ross (indiwire.com), #4 John Waters (artforum.com), #5 Erik Childress (Hollywood bitchslap.com), #6 Peter Sobczynski (criticdoctor.com), #7 Lou Lumineck (nypost.com), #8 Harry Knowles (Ain’t It Cool News), #9 Steven Rea (Philadelphia Enquirer), #10 Leonard Maltin (Hot Ticket TV).

Click below for full details on why each critic was picked:

http://www.criticdoctor.com/toptenlists/2003.html

About Critic Doctor.com

Criticdoctor.com (http://www.criticdoctor.com) was founded in 1998 by Herb Kane. The site was inspired by an online debate between Kane and Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert over the movie “Patch Adams.” Kane wrote a review Ebert’s scathing review and the famed critic wrote back with a positive and respectful response. Kane later launched his weekly syndicated “Critic Doctor Is In!” column - specializing in reviewing film critics which also appears on Chris Gore's Film Threat site. Critic Doctor was featured in a Tech-TV column and was chosen as a “Hot Site” by USA Today and “Top 100 Film Sites on the Web” by Fade In Magazine.

The Lowdown

by Emma Dixon

FRIDAY 16 January, 2004...

Friends prepare for final farewell

The cast members of hit TV show Friends are preparing to film their final scenes at the Warner Bros set in Burbank, California next week. After ten years, the producers of Friends have promised Monica, Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler and Phoebe a fitting swansong that won't depart too radically from a typical episode and in order to keep the sextet' s final secrets under wraps, key scenes in the last ever episode are being filmed on a closed set.

Describing how they all felt about filming the inevitable final scene- Jennifer Anniston who plays Rachel said "we're all like china, very fragile...speeding toward a brick wall". But there is one ray of hope; this isn't the last we have seen of Joey- he's getting his own spin-off show.

David Schwimmer wasn't giving too much away when he hinted this week that his long-suffering alter ego Ross would live happily ever after with his final storyline being "exactly what I had hoped for". What we do know is that fans are guaranteed at least one wedding this season- At the end of season nine Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) was reunited with hunky boyfriend Mike (Paul Rudd), and as pictures published in Heat magazine this week reveal the pair tie the knot in true Friends style (after a whole heap of confusion and with Joey performing the ceremony). But the cast, crew and producers are keeping annoyingly mum about the one thing we all want to know- will Rachel pick Joey or Ross?

Hit-maker leaves label

Antonio 'LA' Reid, one of the most influential players in modern R&B music stepped down from his post as Chief Executive and President of Arista Records this week. Reid who launched the careers of amongst others, TLC and OutKast and produced hits for Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men in a career spanning twenty-five years, leaves amid reports that Arista's parent company Bertelsmann's BMG felt that a change was needed after the label lost in excess of $100m in the past two years.

Reid began his career in the early 1980's, teaming up with Kenneth 'BabyFace' Edmonds to form a hit songwriting and producing partnership. The duo went on to launch their own label, LaFace in 1989. Reid succeeded Clive Davis to the post at Arista in 2000.

Current artists in the Arista stable include Avril Lavigne, Pink, Dido and Usher.

Kilroy caught up in controversy

He's more used to being the mediator in other peoples fights and arguments, but talk show host and former Labor MP Robert Kilroy-Silk is this week caught up at the center of an escalating row with his bosses at the BBC over an article he wrote for the Sunday Express Newspaper last April that was mistakenly reprinted before Christmas.

In the article Mr Kilroy-Silk called Arabs "suicide bombers, limb amputators, woman repressors" , the BBC took his show off air this week whilst it investigated claims that his comments may ' impact on his on-air role' . Mr Kilroy-Silk says he wasn't referring to Arab people in general, but alluding to the fact that there are Arab regimes that are evil and tyrannical and dictatorial. The Commission for Racial Equality says he is guilty of inciting racial hatred and whilst critics have accused the BBC of gagging Mr Kilroy-Silk, they maintain the corporation must be 'seen to be impartial when dealing with topical and controversial issues' and that the job of a BBC presenter carries with it responsibilities about what is written and said publicly.

In a television interview this week, Mr Kilroy-Silk said he understood the BBC's problem regarding his impartiality, but commented that he was disappointed over their lack of support, especially as no one had complained when the article was originally published.

Amid the revelation earlier this week that eleven MP's including Glenda Jackson and Keith Vaz have signed a Commons motion deploring his comments as 'racist and abhorrent', Mr Kilroy-Silk received the support of one of his presenting peers. Richard Madeley (co-host of Richard & Judy) called for Kilroy to be put back on air immediately and blamed a hidden agenda for the suspension, telling BBC News 24 that "anyone whose worked in television as long as Judy (Finnigan, Madeley's wife and co-host) and I have can tell you that when there is a hidden agenda going on it stinks like a fish and I can smell lots of fish at the moment"

However, this isn't the first time Mr Kilroy-Silk's tongue landed him in hot water, a few years ago the former Labour MP had to apologise after accusing Irish people of being, 'peasants, priests and pixies'.

Bad Week/Good Week

Good Week for Bernardo Bertolucci. The Italian director's latest film has been spared from suffering the wrath of the film censor's scissors. Bertolucci has been told that he won't have to cut scenes from The Dreamers in order to secure a US release, instead the film- an erotic drama set during the 1968 riots in Paris- will be given a rare NC-17 certification which bans anyone under the age of seventeen from attending.

Bad week for Internet music pirates. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has warned that it will consider suing those who illegally swap songs over the net in an effort to encourage new, legitimate services. A spokesman for the BPI said "the music industry will defend its rights under the law whether it is against traders selling illegally copied CDs on market stalls, or people uploading illegally copied CDs over the Internet".

Passages

Arne Naess, the Norwegian billionaire and former husband of singer Diana Ross fell to his death this week while mountaineering in South Africa. Mr Naess, 66 who was divorced from Ross in 2000 after thirteen years of marriage died as he tried to abseil down a cliff in the Franschoek Mountains near Cape Town. He leaves seven children, including two with Ross and two with partner Camilla Astrup.

Meanwhile...

Talks are underway this week to solve a dispute over filming scenes at a historical Spanish Cathedral for Sir Ridley Scott's £54m epic Kingdom of Heaven. Scott wanted to film the scenes for his new movie about a young blacksmith who leads the people of Jerusalem in defence against the 12th Century Crusaders. The Spanish Catholic Church has thrown a spanner in the works, saying filming inside the Mezquita in Cordoba would be too disruptive and is reportedly unhappy that the Cathedral- which for centuries has been a site of sensitivity amongst Muslims and Christians- would become a 'fictional' place of worship in the move, rather than 'playing itself'. The film is set for release next year and stars Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson.

The search continues for the writer and author Spalding Gray who disappeared last weekend. Kathy Russo reported her husband missing after he disappeared after returning home from the movies with their two young children. Gray who had suffered depression since a car accident left him with head injuries two years ago has attempted suicide on two previous occasions (the most recent being last September).

Finally, all good things must come to an end, and along with Friends it 's the turn of Frasier Crane to bid a final farewell. The hit comedy series, Frasier, which was first broadcast in 1993 as a spin-off from Cheers will end this year after an eleven year run- Is anybody else wondering what on earth they are going to do on a Friday night now?

Screentime- this weeks new releases

This is Spinal Tap meets folk music in A Mighty Wind.

Newcomer Scarlett Johannson plays the unlikely artists muse in the adaptation of Tracy Chevalier's novel, Girl With a Peal Earring.

Ben Affleck is a man after his Paycheck, in the latest offering from director John Woo.

Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman bring another John Grisham novel to the big screen, in Runaway Jury.

JVC to Hold the 26th Tokyo Video Festival "TVF 2004", International Celebration of Video Art in Feb.

100 works chosen for “Excellence Award” and “Selected Work”

Works selected for the "Excellence Award" will be available on the JVC web site from Jan. 16, and viewers are asked to select the "People Awards" (3 videos)

Screening week of the selected works (Shimbashi, Tokyo) from Feb. 7 thru 12 … Enlarge viewing opportunities such
as screenings and net distributions.

"Video Grand Prize" and "JVC Grand Prize" to be announced at Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 14, 2004.

Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) is pleased to announce the selection of 100 prizewinning works for the 26th Tokyo Video Festival (TVF). TVF is an international video contest sponsored by
JVC. This year the judges reviewed 2,881 submissions from 36 countries and regions (938 from Japan, 1,943 from other countries), a new record (up 21% from the year before.

The "Tokyo Video Festival" started in 1978 and is the longest-running international, public-participation video festival in the world. TVF is open to professionals and amateurs alike, and has achieved a reputation as a "forum for cultural and human exchange in the video medium."

In the 26th TVF, the winning entries were split between a new trend towards video journalism and extensions of the use of video as a personal medium. Examples of the former include "war and
terrorism," "protecting the natural environment" and other works focusing on social and life-style issues. In the latter category were "passing down traditional ceremonies and local cultures" and
"community learning and volunteer activities" that capitalized on the personal nature of the video medium.

The 100 winning entries will be shown at JVC's Shimbashi (Tokyo) Building during the "Tokyo Video Festival 2004" (February 7-14). They will also be available for viewing from the JVC web site.

The final day of the festival (Saturday, February 14) will have an Awards Ceremony (Ebisu, Tokyo) to announce the winners of the "Video Grand Prize," "JVC Grand Prize" and the new
"High-definition Digital Video Camera Prize," and to honour other exemplary entries. The hall will have free viewing corners to allow video lovers and the general public alike to view entries at their
leisure.

All 30 works selected for the "Excellence Award" will be available for viewing on the JVC web site beginning Friday, January 16. Viewers from the general public are asked to complete a web
survey form that will be used to select the "People Awards" (3 videos) from among the 30 works awarded the "Excellence Award."

* Live broadcasts of the 26th awards ceremony, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2004, will be viewable on the internet at http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/tvf/

Judges: Nobuhiko Obayashi, Film Director; Hakudo Kobayashi, Video Artist and Professor of Seian University of Art and Design; Hiroaki Sato, Video Artist and a teacher at Nippon Engineering College; Makoto Shiina, Novelist;Susumu Hani, Film Director; and Mr. Masanori Kitami, General Manager, Camcorder Category Div., Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).
JVC web site: http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/tvf/

DRIVER 3 - "Run the Gauntlet - Atari film"

First Trailer launched on Official Driv3r website

To coincide with the March launch of videogame Driver 3, a unique live action short film " Run the Gauntlet" debuts today online.

The plotline of this breath-taking three minute short film is being closely guarded, but producers' Ridley Scott Associates, in collaboration with Atari, is producing a series of 30 second vignettes as preview trailers for each one-minute episode of the film. The first of these trailers promoting Episode I debuts on www.DRIV3R.com from today.

The second trailer will debut on January 19th 2004, building to the exclusive release of Episode I on the site on January 23rd 2004. This film is closely inspired by and links to the story, characters and action of Driver 3. Never before have the motoring, games and film industries worked this close with such high production values.

Stay tuned for more information on Episodes II and III, and their corresponding trailers. These will be released exclusively to www.DRIV3R.com over the coming months, leading to the launch of the game itself.

Atari has also signed a blockbuster Hollywood cast to lend voices to this greatly anticipated videogame: Michael Madsen, Ving Rhames, Mickey Rourke and Michelle Rodriguez will play the lead roles of the third instalment of the crime-fighting driving game series, one of the most successful video game franchises of all time.

Developed by Reflections Interactive (an Atari videogame development studio), the masterminds behind DRIVER and DRIVER 2 – which have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide – Driver 3 is an action-packed driving adventure game that stays true to its roots, incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground-breaking graphics and three mammoth, wide-open city environments: Miami, Florida; Nice, France; and Istanbul, Turkey. Driver 3 is slated for release in March 2004 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft.

FACTs About DVD and Video Pirates

Organised crime and terrorism rings funded to the tune of millions by film industry pirates - 2003 saw an increase in over 400% in the seizure of counterfeit goods -

Figures announced by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) highlight a massive increase of over 400% in the seizure of pirated films in 2003. The organisation has proved a direct link between the money raised from the sale of counterfeit goods and the funding of organised crime and terrorism rings.

Director of Operations Jim Angell said: "Evidence that organised crime is funded by intellectual property fraud has been collated over the last two years from cases that have come before the courts. The significant increase of seized goods in 2003 indicates that piracy is a booming trade. However, our figures only represent a small proportion of the counterfeit products entering the country. FACT can only make a difference if the entertainment industry unites in our fight to put these criminals out of business.

"There is a simple message for the general public: don't waste your money on substandard counterfeit goods. Not only will you be stifling the developing and expanding British film industry, but you will also be supporting the unsavoury and, quite frankly, terrifying activities of criminal gangs."

This message lies at the heart of a new hard hitting media campaign launched by FACT and is designed to educate members of the entertainment industry and the general public to help stamp out film piracy in the UK.

Jim Angell continues: "It is important that people realise the extent of intellectual property theft and the negative impact it has both on the industry and far beyond. We can only make a difference if industry members join us in our efforts to rid the UK of this hugely damaging black market."

The release of Lord Of The Rings - Return Of The King before Christmas ensured the end of last year was a busy time for FACT as the organisation tried to combat illegal trading of advanced copies. The most popular titles seized by FACT in 2003 were Finding Nemo, Master and Commander, Pirates of The Caribbean, Kill Bill, Brother Bear, Calendar Girls and Love Actually.

Figures for 2003 seizures by FACT are as follows:
VCD 120,722
VHS 86,501
DVDR 167,447
DVD Comp 2,515
DVDR Comp 10,250
DVD 1,568,997

TV FOR THE BLIND
New audio description tool changes TV experience

The UK's first Freeview set-top box that enhances blind and visually impaired people's experience of television is being launched today.

A version of the Netgem i-Player with an audio description function that helps the visually impaired understand what's going on is now available. During TV programmes, the new tool gives spoken details of key visual elements, such as a change in location, movements, interaction, and even clothes people are wearing. This gives blind people the context and helps them to set the scene and recreate the drama, suspense or comedy when watching TV.

The tailored i-Player, which is endorsed by the RNIB and the BBC, is now available for a one-off payment of £119. The audio description function is available on such programmes as: Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Office, Friends, Fimbles and The Hoobs.

In addition to the audio description function, the i-Player is the only set-top box which gives users access to Freeview TV and radio, and also to the Internet.

Clive Miller, digital broadcasting development officer at the RNIB said:

"This is a very exciting time, as the i-Player is the first and only Freeview set-top box that makes audio description available to the general public. The service is massively important for blind people, because many TV programmes are hard to follow just by listening. With audio description, blind people know what's happening, without having to guess or ask someone, and that means they relax and enjoy it, just like everyone else. It also enables them to talk about programmes on an equal basis. We think the i-Player is fantastic - it offers a very friendly approach and even tells people what channel they are watching!"

The BBC today welcomed Netgem's announcement that the i-Player is now
available which will offer audio description to blind and partially
sighted viewers.

Welcoming this new development Greg Dyke, the BBC's Director General,
said:
"This development follows many years of research involving the BBC's engineers at Kingswood Warren and the RNIB. We are delighted that Netgem are now the first manufacturers to integrate this system into their boxes, and very much hope that manufacturers of all set top boxes and iDTVs will also enable blind and partially sighted users to receive audio description in this way in the near future. The technology is now available for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy audio description in the best way possible, and to suit their needs."

Netgem is also working with the RNIB to improve blind people's enjoyment of television further by adding an audio channel guide, delivered over the internet, which will provide a spoken TV Guide. This is due to be launched later this year.

To order, call the freephone number 0800 015 30 92 or visit www.netgem.com.

Rocliffe New Film Forum in association with BAFTA in support of Medicinema

Wednesday 25th February - 6.15 pm start

Rocliffe and Bafta again play host on 25 February 2004 to the Rocliffe New Film Forum - the most comprehensive short film forums for filmmakers giving an in depth insight into the often unconventional and varied ways short films are produced in the UK.

Comprising a rehearsed reading of the earliest draft of three acclaimed, award-winning short films, followed by a screening of the films, and a discussion with the writers/directors and producers of each film before an audience of BAFTA members and emerging filmmakers.

For the event, BAFTA London will be transformed into a mini-trade show for the audience where film service providers and organisations can promote their services, with the proceeds from the events going towards a screening at Medicinema.

Proceeds from the profits will benefit Medicinema. Medicinema is a unique charity bringing the magic of the silver screen to patients by building state of the art cinemas in hospitals. www.medicinema.org.uk

All tickets are £5.00 - Booking by email - events@bafta.org For more information email info@rocliffe.com or call 020 7221 7669 www.rocliffe.com

Some Comments About Previous Forums...

"The Rocliffe Forums are doing our job for us - it is great for me to be patron of an organisation which supports the industry in finding new writing and talent, as well as a creating a friendly environment in which to network and develop"
Nik Powell, Producer

"Rocliffe is an exciting and energetic organisation, of which we are proud to be Patrons. Nurturing talent is the most important job in our industry today"
Alan Plater & Shirley Rubinstein, Bafta & Emmy Winning Writer

"New Film Forum is a fantastic way for film-makers to share their knowledge and experience. I wish it had been around when I started making shorts"
Alex Lewis, Producer, Whatever Pictures

"The Rocliffe Forums are a superb resource in which to improve writing and directing skills and network with some of the best new UK filmmaking talent"
Dan Clark, Emerging Filmmakers Manager, Kodak UK

"It was great to be able to network and share information with such a varied group of emerging and existing"
Alasdair MacCuish, Senior Producer, LipSync Post

"UK talent, the New Film Forum is a commendable initiative that should be seen as a valuable industry resource"
Lloyd Billing, Sound-Effects-Library.com

ASOLOARTFILMFESTIVAL

International Festival of Films on Art and the Lives of Artists
Cinema - TV – Video – Videoart – Computer art – Productions of film schools

The 2004 edition of the AsoloArtFilmFestival will be held in Asolo (Treviso), Italy, from 20 to 26 September 2004. The Festival is part of the cultural tradition and a continuation of the “Festival Internazionale del Film sull’Arte e di Biografie di Artisti”, which was set up in 1973 by the Treviso Provincial Council under the direction of Flavia Paulon and had achieved great international success over the years finally closing at the end of the nineties. Thirty years later and in the light of advances in visual languages, the Festival is now being relaunched under the name “AsoloArtFilmFestival”: an international showcase, and competition with prizes, of film production dedicated to the visual arts in all the variety of their expression and to the music.

The festival is subdivided into four sections:

· FILMS ON ART for works on the visual arts and music

· ARTISTS’ LIVES for works of historical reconstruction and critical interpretation of people from the world of art and music

· VIDEOART and COMPUTER ART for works using electronic or computer technologies as a means of direct artistic expression

· PRODUCTIONS made by recognised film schools, specialist secondary schools and universities, regarding the fields of visual arts and music.

Anna Maria Cerrato is the artistic director of the Festival, which is conceived and organized by the cultural association AsoloInternationalArtFestival (A.I.A.F), a cultural non-profit association with legal personality (D.G.R. del Veneto del 18/04/03 N° 59741.03), presided over by Lionello Puppi.

Info: AsoloArtFilmFestival – Foresto Vecchio 8 – 31011 Asolo (TV) Italia

Tel: 0423 520455 Fax: 0423 951320

E-mail: info@asolofilmfestival.it - www.asolofilmfestival.it

Independent Film Internet Awards for 2003 Announced

Norfilms announces the awards for the best web sites promoting the work of independent film producers around the world through the Webcinema network. These awards are given to independent film-makers to acknowledge their efforts to promote independent film productions through their internet sites.

Norfilms are a British company who support the mutual networking of film and television producers, directors, artists through the Webcinema internet network site listing which is hosted at their web site www.norfilms.com. This network brings together film-makers from around the world for mutual support, exchange of advice, news, etc., and provides a support system to the independent production sector away from the mainstream film and TV industries.

This year's awards were made from a list of 53 independent companies around the world reviewed by Norfilms and submitted to them by the from the Webcinema membership. They represent a wide range of skills and professional standards, from one-man home-built sites through to work from professional designers using state-of-the-art techniques.

In all four producers' work was highlighted in this year's awards:
Runners-up were

(1) Wicked Witches Productions
(http://www.members.tripod.com/wickedwitches), a Los Angeles company;

(2) Automatic Films (http://www.automatic.biz/) a Danish web site that, although written entirely in Danish, showed how easy it is to present a small site attractively.

The main runner-up and Flash Award Winner was a
Russian site by Andrey Stankevich (http://www.andreystankevich.com/) who showed how to present information in a simple, attractive fashion and made the effort to provide both English and Russian translations.

The overall winner of this year's awards was a US independent
company Nimble Productions (http://www.nimble-productions.com/).

Although they were a small site they showed that it is possible to
create a site that is both informative, attractive and effective in
presenting information to the public.

The awards have been made on the basis of ease of use, in
navigation, design, technical requirements for a browser, functionality and overall style. Surprises in the review included that fact that some of the more professional site failed to meet all the requirements, being either too elaborate or over-designed for a given function - using elaborate techniques and technology where a simple one would be better.

Full details of the awards and the work of Norfilms are available on
their web site at: http://www.norfilms.com.

screenselect.co.uk acquires In Movies Ltd

Online DVD rental company screenselect.co.uk today announced that it has acquired the business of In Movies Ltd, the longest established industry player, resulting in the creation of the industry market leader.

Screenselect.co.uk launched in September 2003 with a mission to
"amazon" high street video rental. Backed by Simon Murdoch, the founder of amazon.co.uk, and with a number of the original amazon.co.uk launch team on board, screenselect.co.uk now offers the ‘largest DVD library on the planet’ with over 16,000 unique titles (over 10x more than the average video rental store).

In Movies was founded in 1999 by Laurence Penn and became the first UK business to offer an online DVD subscription service. With immediate effect, Laurence Penn is joining the screenselect.co.uk board. Screenselect.co.uk will also own In Movie’s exclusive editorial content, which has been built up over the past four years.

"The success of Netflix in the United States demonstrates that online rental has the potential to transform the way consumers watch, rent and own DVDs," says Laurence Penn. "Screenselect.co.uk has the funding and the know-how to be as successful in the UK and this deal allows all of us at In Movies to be part of the UK market leader."

"This is an important milestone for Screenselect.co.uk,” says managing director William Reeve. “First of all we can benefit from the invaluable expertise of Laurence and the In Movies team. Secondly, we're able to bulk up our customer and stock numbers much faster than we can do organically. And finally, this deal secures our market leadership in the UK - it makes us the biggest player, allowing us to benefit from economies of scale by deploying our sophisticated proprietary fulfillment technology across a larger operation."

Screenselect.co.uk offers 24/7 online ordering, free delivery and
returns and no late fines - ever. With Screenselect.co.uk’s £14.99 monthly fee, subscribers keep a revolving library of three DVDs at a time, which they can exchange as often as they like. Screenselect.co.uk offers not only the largest selection of titles but also the best value available in the UK.

After signing up, subscribers to screenselect.co.uk build a list of
titles that they wish to see from the 16,000+ titles on offer and
prioritise which they want to see first. Screenselect.co.uk sends out 3 immediately and once a subscriber has finished with a disc, they simply mail it back in a pre-paid envelope and the next title from the customer’s wish-list is sent out first class in the post.

As subscribers watch and rate DVDs they also benefit from
Screenselect.co.uk’s unique personalisation technology which recommends other titles for them.

With the aim of further accelerating its growth, screenselect.co.uk has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign that has seen inserts placed in several hundred thousand DVD player boxes to be sold in the run up to Christmas. Screenselect.co.uk is also currently offering anyone who signs up a free, no obligation trial to the service.

I have been using this service in the last few weeks and it has worked very well. Their website makes selecting the movie you want very easy, and they email you when they send out a new DVD.