Czech Showcase

Screenings of
Auto*Mate (2009)

and Jan Kaplicky / Eye Over Prague  (2010) 
 International Architecture Showcase

London Festival of Architecture

29 June, 8.45 pm, Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS   (Auto Mate)

2 July, 7 pm, Wren Room, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD (Eye Over Prague)

see  www.czechcentre.org.uk, www.lfa2010.org for details

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Directly addressing the key theme of the London Festival of Architecture 2010 - 'The Welcoming City' - is the Czech documentary film Auto*Mate (Czech Republic, 2009) by Martin Marecek. Born out of a cultural and social project created to promote activities to make Prague a healthier livelier city, safe for pedestrians and cyclists, Auto*Mate follows the progress of the project including meetings with politicians, group bike-rides, exhibitions and debates, to capture the growth of this inspiring, city awakening initiative. This playful film essay about our automobile-obsessed society crossed the boundary of its media, turning into a social act. Screened as a part of the DocSpot documentary series at the Barbican, the film will be followed by a debate with Martin Marecek and other guests chaired by Patrick Hazard, director of the London International Documentary Festival, comparing experiences in Prague and London and discussing current trends in urbanism.

The second Czech instalment at the International Architecture Showcase is the international premiere of the documentary Eye Over Prague (Oga Spatova, Czech Republic 2010) dedicated to the late Czech architectJan Kaplicky, founder of London based architectural practice Future Systems (Stirling Price 1999 for Lord's Cricket Ground Media Centre). Featuring Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Vaclav Havel and others, the film tells the story of Kaplicky's design for the National Library in Prague. After winning the international competition, it met fierce opposition from the Czech government and the local administration and the battle began. Director of the Design Museum Deyan Sudjic will chair a debate with architect Eva Jiricna and other guests following the screening.

Both screenings are part of the International Architecture Showcase, one of the highlights of this year's LFA programme, which presents a broad spectrum of exciting international architecture projects organised by more than 30 Embassies and Cultural institutes around London. 

The London Festival of Architecture 2010, a city-wide celebration  of architecture in the capital, will take place from 19 June to 4 July 2010.  www.lfa2010.org 

Wild Target

Jean Rochefort, one of France’s finest character actors, stars in possibly his finest ever role, in writer/director Pierre Salvadori’s outstanding debut Wild Target. This wickedly funny crime-caper sees experienced and meticulous hitman Victor’s (Rochefort) fortunes change as he takes on a hot-headed accomplice, Guillaume Depardieu (son of Gerard), it shoots on to DVD for the first time ever courtesy of Second Sight Films on 21 June 2010.

Wild Target aka Cible Émouvante, one of the standout French comedies from the nineties, is now the subject of a British remake starring Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Martin Freeman, which is released in cinemas in June. Victor, a middle-aged professional killer, encounters young messenger, Antoine (Depardieu), when he inadvertently becomes involved during a hit. Without a son to pass on the family business, the assassin takes the naïve youngster under his wing as his apprentice. Their next assignment is Renee (Marie Trintignant), a glamorous art forger and petty thief who has conned a gangster, but Victor has softened and can’t go through with it. The unlikely trio team up and await the inevitable showdown with an unhappy client.

Wild Target features some brilliant black humour and a superb central piece from the deadpan Rochefort in one of his best performances ever. 

Title: Wild Target Release Date: 21 June 2010

RRP: £19.99 Cert: 15

Cat.No.: 2NDVD3179

Running Time: 97 min

Company K, DVD

‘Company K’, a gripping and emotion-charged story of a unit of American marines in World War 1, is being released on retail DVD by Scanbox Entertainment on July 26. 

It is based on the classic novel by William March and his own personal WW1 experiences in the trenches of Frances. March’s book has long been considered one of the greatest war novels by an American author. 

The cast is headed by Ari Fliakos, Steve Cuiffo and Joe Delafield and the film is a stark reminder of the carnage and horrors of war in the First World War trenches.

Sergeant Joseph Delaney (Ari Fliakos) signs on for service with the US Marine Corps and the unit is shipped off to the front line at Verdun, France. On arrival the unit immediately comes under attack firstly from a German biplane bomber and then from the dreaded mustard gas which is thrown at the Americans as they enter the trenches. 

Delaney is ordered to stay on his feet and move forward but when the fighting subsides he’s taken off to spend time at a hospital behind the lines for treatment to his injuries. 

Meanwhile, back in the trenches a new lieutenant arrives who soon senses the men have no respect for him. Brashly he orders one of his sergeants to take some soldiers, advance to a clump of trees and set-up a machine gun nest, despite being warned against it. 

The Germans see the men crawling across No Man’s Land and open fire, realising that the Marines have no chance of retreating back to their own lines. 

The incident subsequently turns many of the men in Company K against their officers and for them the war becomes more and more of a test of sanity and survival which comes to a head when Delaney’s best friend Private Edward Carter (Steve Cuiffo) murders an officer.

When the war ends Delaney has his own burden of guilt to bear -  a German soldier he killed in a forest when he knows he could have taken him prisoner instead. 

Delaney, Carter and their friend Private Emile Ayres (Joe Delafield) must now learn to live the quiet life as civilians but they find its not as easy as they thought it would be to leave the memories of the war behind. 

“I have watched the reactions of many men to pain, hunger and death but all I have learned is that no two men react alike and that no one man comes through the experience unchanged”

                                                                               

‘Company K’ has a run time of 103 minutes, a 12 certificate and a recommended retail price of £12.99
Bonus Features :

• Three trailers
• Five deleted scenes
• William March Documentary
• Audio Commentary with Director Robert Clem
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio

Airport Control Simulator

Airport Control Simulator is a casual simulator game in which players need to land the incoming airplanes on the runways. The game features 15 internationally known airports. Players operate as Air Traffic Controller and need to take in consideration the different angles of an increasing number of incoming planes, their speed and their altitude, before landing them all safely and as quickly as possible. This combination of factors makes Airport Control Simulator a very entertaining, fun and addictive game for everyone.

For a demo of Airport Control Simulator please visit our friends at GamersHell or FilePlanet.

To find out more about Airport Control Simulator and to keep up with the latest news on the game, visit www.iceberg-interactive.com.

 About Airport Control Simulator

Is the altitude correct? Which plane can stay in the air longer? What direction are other planes coming from and is a collision likely? You are in control. Land all types of airplane on your airport, until there are no more incoming flights.

As Air Traffic Controller you will experience the stress, the hectic pace and the satisfaction of landing all of your planes as safely and as quickly as possible. Avoiding collisions at all times, direct planes to their correct landing path and runway, while monitoring their fuel load closely. Your results will be strictly monitored, a score attributed and new airports unlocked – but any accident will result in your immediate firing.

Airport Control Simulator Features:

• Casual addictive game play

• 15 Different International Airports

• Realistic Air Plane Behavior

• Dynamic Weather conditions

• Complete control over the airspace

• Progressively harder levels and complex manoeuvres

Space Shuttle Mission Simulator for PC

NASA has announced quitting the space shuttle program, gamers can enjoy launching space shuttles for years to come courtesy of videogame publisher Iceberg Interactive and developer Simsquared Ltd. Iceberg announced that its hardcore simulation game for PC “Space Shuttle Mission Simulator: The Collector’s Edition”, is available at all major UK retailers and good independent game shops since this past weekend, as well as in several other European territories that release English versions. The fully localized German release is scheduled for 18 June 2010 and the French one for 15 July 2010.

The new ultra realistic and award-winning simulator game Space Shuttle Mission Simulator: The Collector’s edition is designed to provide the experience and excitement of the NASA Space Shuttle missions in extreme detail, from the first mission back in the 80’s to the newest ISS missions. So if you’ve ever wondered how it feels to be in command of the Space Shuttle, perform “space walks” and float around the ISS, while enjoying the beautiful view of our planet at dawn or sunset from space, Space Shuttle Mission Simulator is a must-have game for you! 

 

FEATURES

•       Experience the Liftoff shakes and engines roar right from the Commander's or Pilot's seats.

•       Perform mission procedures: press buttons, rotate knobs, control the General Purpose Computer and manually guide the Shuttle to a safe landing etc.

•       Perform variable-difficulty historical missions from STS-1 (the maiden flight), through secret DoD missions, and up to the recent ISS missions.

INCLUDES

•       Beautifully rendered Space Shuttle 3D virtual cockpit, Shuttle, International Space Station, Hubble, satellites

•       TrueEarth™ Global Satellite Imagery – licensed from TerraMetrics Inc. These are the same textures used by Google Earth.

•       First Person View, including Space Walks – you cannot get any closer to the ISS or Hubble than that!

•       Launch Control, Mission Control, Shuttle and Astronauts audio smart communications.

•       Three difficulty modes: from Novice which leads the "astronaut" through the tasks with context arrows and full text subtitles, to "Read the Manual and Checklists Commander!"

•       TrackIR(tm) Support in 3D Virtual Cockpit and first person view during EVA

•       Multiple-Monitor support for Matrox TripleHead2Go(tm) and Nvidia nView (tm)

•       Native support for Vuzix iWear VR920 Stereoscopic goggles + head tracking. This is the closest you can get to the NASA VR Labs where Shuttle Astronauts train for ISS missions (on compatible systems).

•       You can find more about the Space Shuttle Mission Simulator at the official website at www.space-shuttle-mission.com

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a new comedy drama pilot on BBC Three, written & created by Leo Richardson and directed by Misha Manson-Smith (LALA Land and High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman). Stanley Park stars comedian Morwenna Banks (Saxondale) and Antonia Thomas (who played Alisha in E4's comedy drama Misfits).

Set in a south London suburb, the show follows young friends enduring the poignant and often hilarious emotional upheavals during a life-changing period. All living on the same street, it's hard to really keep secrets, and it seems everyone has something they're hiding, or hiding from.

First there's “Dirty” Debbie (Holliday Grainger), a sassy fashion designer and self-proclaimed ‘Carrie Bradshaw of Croydon’ who, from the moment she arrived to live with gin swigging, Superking smoker and serial internet dater, Auntie Pat (Sharon Horgan writer and star of BBC’s Pulling), knew the place had trouble written all over it. And she wasn’t wrong. Debbie's outfits are as outrageous as the erotic fiction she writes and no man can resist her charms but, across the road, there's competition in the form of emo, Raggedy Ann (Jennie Jacques - Desperate Romantics, Shank), who claims she was a bohemian poet in her past life.

Then there's “Bent” Ben - Ann’s fabulous, Beyonce-loving best friend who is always on hand to provide a shoulder to cry on and a constant source of advice, but who could do well to counsel himself occasionally. And who can forget Sadie (Antonia Thomas who played Alisha in E4's Misfits), waggish with a nice job, a hot boyfriend, and a Gucci bag who thinks her life will really take off since she got engaged in Pizza Express.

As the residents of Stanley Park go about their everyday lives, Harry “the hottie” winks at Debbie as she walks home and sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything and everyone in the street forever...

Join the characters of Stanley Park on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stanley-Park/115872958450682?ref=ts

Catch the first episode of Stanley Park online before it airs on BBC Three 10 Jun 2010 at 21:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sj8f9

Five Films Celebrate IT Pioneers

 BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, today launched five short films that highlight the achievements of the often forgotten and unacknowledged Information Pioneers.The five pioneers, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, Sir Clive Sinclair, Hedy Lamarr and Sir Tim Berners-Lee were chosen from a list of 150 IT Greats who span the globe. A celebrity advocate endorses each pioneer. The list of 150 IT Greats, along with the five short films, can be viewed on the Information Pioneers site (http://pioneers.bcs.org) The Institute commissioned Lewis Georgeson, the Emmy-nominated and multi-award winning director of short form digital programmes, to direct the series.

Elizabeth Sparrow, President, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said:

“We want to celebrate the achievements of these Information Pioneers and demonstrate their contribution to today’s Information Society. Everyone should visit the Information Pioneer campaign website and join in the debate on who should be the greatest Information Pioneer of all time, vote for their favourite pioneer and share their favourite film with their friends and colleagues.”

The five short films star:

Ortis Deley from The Gadget Show presents the achievements of Lord Byron’s daughter, Ada Lovelace, who has been regarded as the first computer programmer.

BBC Click reporter Kate Russell celebrates Alan Turing, the father of artificial intelligence and the man who created a machine to crack the Enigma Code during the Second World War.

British actress Miranda Raison tells us about Hollywood A-list star Hedy Lamarr who apart from her successful acting career also co-invented an early technique for spread spectrum communications, making the use of mobile phone communications possible today.

Phil Tufnell, ex-England cricketer, represents Sir Clive Sinclair the father of gaming who brought computers into the home and made them affordable to the masses at £99.95 each in 1979 with the ZX80. In 1982 the iconic ZX Spectrum was launched complete with sound and eight colours, which marked the birth of the UK gaming industry.

Finally, British comedian, actor and author Dom Joly acts as the advocate for Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the man who created the World Wide Web. Sir Tim Berners-Lee came up with the idea of linking all documents together in one place when he was suffering from information overload.

The films will go live today on the pioneers site (http://pioneers.bcs.org) and on MSN.co.uk. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite Information Pioneer, share the videos and join the discussion about the other pioneers on the website.

Regular updates and commentary are available on Twitter @infopioneers.

The campaign can also be found on Facebook.

9th Fantastic Films Weekend, Friday 4 - Sunday 6 June 2010

National Media Museum, Bradford

The National Media Museum, Bradford, presents the 9^th Fantastic Films Weekend (FFW) promising three fear-filled days of thrills and spine-tingling chills for fantasy, horror and sci-fi fans. This year’s Fantastic Films Weekend takes place from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 June.

As part of the weekend the Museum welcomes British directors Stanley Long (Screamtime and cinematographer of The Sorcerers) and Michael Armstrong (The Image starring David Bowie and Mark of the Devil). This year, the weekend also includes a special guest appearance by English screenwriter and FFW patron Jeremy Dyson, best known for his contribution to the well-known British TV series, The League of Gentlemen.

Films screening over the weekend include Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, an exclusive midnight screening of Birdemic: Shock and Terror, a double-bill of horror with 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later and a selection of popular titles from the Museum’s own film archive including Robocop, The Giant Spider Invasion and Patrick.

Stanley Long has worked with the likes of Roman Polanski on Repulsion and with Peter Cushing on The Blood Beast Terror as well as on the 1960s classic The Sorcerers. He co-directed Screamtime with Michael Armstrong. Both British horror features will be screened at the 9^th Fantastic Films Weekend; Stanley will also be signing copies of his autobiography X-Rated: Adventures of an Exploitation Filmmaker.

Writer/director Michael Armstrong is best-known for his cult horror films and for providing David Bowie with his screen debut in the short film The Image, which was also Michael’s first film. Michael will be discussing his career in the Museum’s Cubby Broccoli Cinema ahead of a screening of Mark of the Devil. The event starts at 6:15pm on Saturday 5 June. Mark of the Devil is a notorious and long-banned film in which a twisted witch hunter hands out God’s will, punishing an array of innocent women.

Hitchcock fans will be thrilled with the 1960 version of Psycho showing in the Museum’s Pictureville Cinema. This 50^thanniversary re-release is a welcome reminder of Alfred Hitchcock’s genius for creating heart-stopping cinema. There will be three separate screenings of the classic thriller during FFW.

Fantastic Films Weekend is proud to announce a special midnight screening of Birdemic: Shock and Terror. Influenced by Hitchcock’s The Birds, Birdemic was first screened at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States and since has played to sell-out theatres across the USA. This amateur but cult film was created on a micro-budget by first time director James Nguyen who has been compared to legendary dud-maker Ed (Plan 9 from Outer Space) Wood.

For those who don’t scare easily, don’t miss the double-bill of shock that will leave viewers hanging on the edge of their seats with Danny Boyle’s zombie chiller 28 Days Later, where animal rights activists storm a laboratory and unwittingly unleash a plague virus that turns humans into mad-eyed, homicidal maniacs. The double-bill continues with 28 Weeks Later, starring Robert Carlyle. This sequel offers cat-and-mouse chases and lashings of gore and blood, definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Once again the National Media Museum has dug deep in its unique film archive and dusted off some blasts from the past that will be showing on the big screen during the weekend. The films include Robocop in which Officer Murphy’s memorable catchphrase “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me” will take fans back to the first time they watched this sci-fi action thriller. Other favorites from the vault include The Giant Spider Invasion, the rarely-seen Three Cases of Murderand Patrick.

Other film highlights from this year’s Fantastic Film Weekend include Plague Town, a film about an American family in search of their roots in Ireland who instead discover a small village with a terrible truth from generations past; Videodromestarring James Woods and eXistenz starring Jude Law. Both films – a David Cronenberg double-bill - are linked to theImmersion exhibition (running in Gallery Two until September 5), in which photographer and video artist Robbie Cooper focuses on our obsession with screen media. Finally, audiences will get the chance to see the sell-out Avatar 3D andAlice in Wonderland 3D on Yorkshire’s only IMAX screen.

For festival passes, day passes or individual tickets visit www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/fantastic or call the NMeM box office on 0870 7010200. Weekend pass £50 (£40 concs), day pass £20 (£15 concs) (passes do not include IMAX titles). 28 Days Later/28 WeeksLater double-bills £10 (£7 concs). Single tickets £6.50 (£4.50 concs), Imax DMR £9 (£7 concs) - FFW pass holders receive £1 discount on IMAX films.

PollyGrind brings out the darkside

Film festival gets underway this Wednesday and runs until May 16 in Las Vegas

MAY 10 — As a fan of genre and independent cinema, Chad Clinton Freeman knows how hard it is to weed through everything and find good movies to watch these days. As a filmmaker, he also knows how hard it is to get independent works out for the public to see them. With both of these experiences in mind, Freeman created the Polly Staffle Grindhouse Fest.

The event, which will consist of five days of programming in the tradition of grindhouse theaters with double and triple features each day, gets underway this Wednesday and runs till May 16 at the Sci-Fi Center (2520 State Street) in Las Vegas.

Thirteen films and more than 31 trailers, music videos and shorts will play the PollyGrind, which has been hyped by Vampires.com as “one of the biggest events for grindhouse and trash film lovers this year.”

“This week the cinematic revolution that is known as the PollyGrind begins,” said Freeman, who has been dubbed the "new champion of unabashed B-movie sleaze" by ArrowInTheHead.com. “This festival is being put on in the same spirit as old school grindhouse cinema - no funding and creatively using whatever is available. With that being said, I think the lineup turned out rather nicely and I think everyone that comes out will enjoy what William Powell’s Sci-Fi Center and the PollyGrind have to offer.”

Five features will have world premieres at the event. John R. Hand’s sci-fi arthouse film Scars of Youth  opens the festival May 12. The Dead Undead, which stars Luke Goss and was directed by stuntmen Matt Anderson and Edward Conna, world premieres May 13. Creep Creepersin will world premiere his films Vaginal Holocaust, Caged Lesbos A-Go-Go, and Orgy of Blood on May 15.

The films Greg Lamberson’s Slime City Massacre (which stars Debbie Rochon, Lee Perkins and Brooke Lewis), Henry Weintraub’s Melvin, Bruce Dickson’s Red Velvet (Henry Thomas, Kelli Garner and Cristen Coopen), James Pronath’s Horrid, Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska’s Dead Hooker in a Trunk, Alex Pucci’s Frat House Massacre and the anthology Terror Overload (Scarlet Salem, Rachel Grubb and Ari Lehman) will have Las Vegas premieres and the Argentina import Zombie Apocalypse Now: A Zombie Hunter will screen for the first time in the United States.

“Personally, I think all of these films are great. Otherwise I wouldn’t have programmed them,” Freeman said with a chuckle. “I will say that I’m very pleased I’m getting to open with the world premiere of Scars of Youth and I think the stuff Creep is bringing for Saturday should be a blast. Also, I think Slime City Massacre, The Dead Undead, Dead Hooker in a Trunk and Red Velvet will be crowd favorites.”

Also highlighting the festival will be works from award-winning filmmakers Michael Ramova (four faux trailers and a short), Calvin Lee Reeder (shorts The Rambler and The Snake Mountain Colada), Aaron Mento (shorts Absent and Heathen’s Gate) and Ginnetta Correli (music video Hippodome Mime).

Other short films playing will range from horror (The Bet, Blood Shed, The Red Hours, Depraved, and Hypochondriac), to animated fun (Frankenstien vs. Wolfman in 3D), to film noir (Stiletto), to sci-fi (Babylon 2084), to experimental (Telefone), and even dark comedy (Sis, and Because There Are Things You Never Forget).

Music videos will include Ryen McPherson’s entry Jitterbug (song by Walker Rose), the world premiere of Alvaro de la Hoz’s Long Goodbye (Lazy), David Wanger’s Anatinus (LIGO) Elona’s Warrior (Elona), and Rob Prior and Paul Jenkins’ Get Your Dead On (Scum of the Earth).

The PollyGrind will also feature appearances by actors, actresses, filmmakers and more. Confirmed special guests include Scream Queens Elske McCain and Donna Hamblin, actor Robert C. Sabin of Slime City and Slime City Massacre, comic book legend Everette Hartsoe (Razor), pinup artist Popeye Wong, and filmmakers Creep Creepersin, Alex Pucci, Sean Cain, Shane Ryan, Michael Dunn, Jeffrey Bliss, Aaron Mento, and Jeffrey Blake Palmer.

Vendor tables will open an hour and half before the movie madness begins each night. There will be items for sale, autograph and photograph opportunities, as well as raffles and giveaways.

Various nightly hosts will include spooks-model Jennique Angel, HorrorNews.net managing editor Dai Green, and Heather Wixson of DreadCentral.com, while sponsors of the event are TheGrindHouse.net, MTI Home Video, Sony Creative Software, FootageFirm, Terror Cards, and Dolls and Dead Things.

When the dust settles, the film festival will hand out more than 14 awards, including the top prize dubbed The Biggest Baddest Mother of the PollyGrind. There will also be awards for best use of music, nudity/sexuality, violence/gore, and most outrageous. The audience will also be casting ballots each night to pick their favorite feature, short, music video and trailer.

Tickets for the event are $10 per day. Five day passes and three day passes can be purchased in advance for $40 and $25 at PollyGrind.com or TheSciFiCenter.com.

In anticipation of the event, Ammon Gilbert of ArrowInTheHead.com has called it “a B-movie jamboree of awesomeness” that “only Vegas has the balls to host.” Josh Bell of Las Vegas Weekly said “there's a fine line, certainly, between underground genre weirdness and artistic ambitions, and the festival will no doubt do everything possible to blur it.”

Freeman said he hopes both journalists are right in their predictions, and then some. “Our aim, as has always been the case with PollyStaffle.com, is to celebrate individuality, diversity, creativity and empowerment,” Freeman said. “Hopefully, PollyGrind is a fun and unique experience that honors the darker side of cinema and showcases the work of filmmakers with defiantly independent visions. I also hope it comes off as an intimate educational experience and a networking function for the audience and the filmmakers that will leave everyone wanting to come back for more next year.”

Worldwide Release of Kites

Box Office stakes fly high as Reliance BIG Pictures presents ‘Kites’

India’s most truly international film project – releasing in Cinemas Worldwide on 21^st May 2010

One of the most ambitious and truly international films to emerge from India is set to dominate cinemas worldwide as Reliance BIG Pictures presents the long-awaited ‘Kites’ a film that will undoubtedly fly high in Box Offices across the globe when it releases on 21^stMay 2010.

‘Kites’, the widest ever release for any Indian film production to date, heralds a new milestone in international filmmaking by truly crossing geographical, cultural and social boundaries making  it a film which cannot be confined to any singular defining film genre.Anurag Basu, one of the most forward-thinking directors to emerge from India and fearless in his vision of breaking the conventions associated with Indian filmmaking, directs the  heartthrob of Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan, one of India’s most idolised artists.

Hrithik sets screens ablaze with the on-screen chemistry he shares with smoldering Mexican beauty, Barbari Mori, the South American screen icon who has been creating waves across the international film circuit. ‘Kites’ has been produced by veteran of Indian cinema, Rakesh Roshan, under his Filmkraft banner.

 ‘Kites’ trails a filmic journey through the neon and nightlife of the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas, where the crew took special permissions and blocked off roads for filming to the point of creating rain in the middle of the Nevada desert, through to the barren and beautiful landscape of New Mexico, where the natural beauty and unusual cloud formations provide a Utopia-like backdrop to a kaleidoscopic piece of cinematic work. The film effortlessly seams together romance, action, thriller and road trip into a montage that will guarantee a love affair with audiences universally. Narrated through a series of slickly edited flashbacks, ‘Kites’ tells its story through a mix of Hindi, English and subtitled Spanish. The soundtrack has been composed by music maestro Rajesh Roshan who has created a haunting ensemble of tracks fusing Western, Indian and Latino ballads.

Synopsis:

‘Kites’ centres around two immigrants – one from India and one from Mexico – both navigating life in North America in pursuit of their dreams. Orphaned in childhood, ‘J’ (Hrithik Roshan) is a hustler who has learned to live by his wits and charm. Teaching salsa by day, he is not averse to a shady deal here and there. ‘Linda’ AKA ‘Natasha’ (Barbara Mori’) is a feisty, beautiful Mexican who has crossed the border illegally in the hope of making some money to support her family back home.

Destiny unites them through the most unexpected twist of fate which culminates in a mortally wounded man being left for dead in the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert. The man is J, but barely recognizable as the once carefree and street smart trickster that he was.  The only thing now keeping him alive is his quest to reclaim the love of his life – Linda.

‘Kites’ is a multi-layered and textured film which transcends racial barriers and backgrounds. It deals with issues that hold utmost relevance in today’s multicultural society and is sure to touch the hearts of a diversity of both mainstream and ethnic film audiences the world over.

‘Kites’ is released by Reliance BIG Pictures in cinemas worldwide on 21^st May 2010.

OCTOPUS MAKES SOUND AND IMAGE UNFORGETTABLE

Just when you had finally completed collecting your favourite videos, the world moved over to DVDs. It is a great development of course; stored digitally, your films can be saved indefinitely. But replacing your entire collection of videotapes with DVDs is quite expensive. Marmitek solves this problem with the introduction of Octopus. With this device, you can convert your complete analogue video collection into digital data and save it on your computer. Burn all your files on DVD and rescue your priceless memories of a marriage, the christening ceremony, or a family party from oblivion.

Spending a rainy Sunday afternoon watching old movies with your children, is now a reality. Leave it to Octopus to provide nostalgia and a cosy feeling in your home this autumn and winter. Marmitek, the company that often comes up with smart solutions for your home since many years, focuses on the seasons and the time which families spend together. Children of the present generation, whether those who go to primary schools or secondary, are hardly aware of how their parents and grandparents used to sit together listening to music or watching movies. The fast moving technology of the last twenty years has failed to take into account the need to share the lifestyle of the past with the people of the present. Octopus has arrived to take care of that.

SIMPLICITY WITH MANY OPTIONS

The name Octopus originates from its ability to make many different devices communicate with each other. Complicated? Arthur van Horssen of Marmitek explains how simple Octopus makes it: ‘It is a simple matter of ‘everything is possible’. With an Octopus and a computer at hand, everyone can secure the quality of their video tapes or video8 tapes once and for all. The Octopus digitalizes the data and sends it to the computer. After that, the possibilities become infinite, as we know. Burning DVDs, cutting and pasting, editing, superimposing; it’s all at your command. The digitalized data is not just for the owner; it can also be shared with friends and family, or made available to the world, by uploading it to websites such as Hyves and YouTube”.

COMPUTER BECOMES A TV WITH THE OCTOPUS

The Octopus literally opens up a world of possibilities. It doesn’t just end at digitalizing sound and image; this unit also works as an external TV-card. This means that the computer works as a TV. In most cases, a TV-card needs to be installed into the computer, which means the computer casing needs to be opened for the installation, and that isn’t even possible in case of laptops. ‘Much too complicated and unnecessary’ says Marmitek. The Octopus gets connected to the computer with a single cable, and is ready for use. The advantages of a TV-to-computer connection are quite clear: the computer room changes into a TV room at any desired moment, and all members of the family can watch their favourite programs together, without the need of a second TV, which also means saving money. Marmitek has set the advised sale price of Octopus at 54,95 GBP, whereas professional companies charge huge sums of money for digitalizing sound and image. With an Octopus in your home, you can look forward to many hours of listening and viewing pleasure.

For more information and sale-point addresses, please visit www.marmitek.com.

The Rebellion Begins As Harry Potter Comes To Hi-Def

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ to be released on HD DVD and Blu-ray on 12th November

Harry Potter Year 1 - 4 also releasing in high-definition on 12th November

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, the darkest, most thrilling Harry Potter movie to date, makes its highly anticipated debut in high-definition on 12th November 2007 from Warner Home Video.

Boasting razor-sharp, crystal clear images and uncompressed, cinema quality surround sound, the HD DVD and Blu-ray editions of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix bring Hogwarts to life in a way never seen before. The inclusion of exclusive high-definition additional extras and special features allow fans to delve deeper into the magical world of Harry and his friends as they take on He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named.

As well as extra scenes and behind-the-scenes footage, all available to watch in stunning high-definition, the HD DVD disc also comes with In-Movie technology. This allows fans to watch the films’ cast share memorable moments and personal perspectives whilst the movie is running with its picture-in-picture feature, adding a whole new dimension to the film.

In addition, the web-enabled features on the HD DVD disc truly take interactivity to the next level by allowing Harry Potter fans to pick their favourite scenes, assemble the clips into a montage and create their own personalised trailers. They can then share their montages online, via the HD DVD players’ internet connection, with other owners of the HD DVD disc.

Fans can scan, select and download cool images, wallpapers and ringtones to send to their mobile phones, whilst the Live Community Screening feature enables viewers to create, organise and invite their friends to their very own virtual screening parties, bringing Harry Potter fans together to experience the magic (HD DVD only).

In addition, Harry Potter Years 1 - 4 - Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone™, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ - will also be available on HD DVD and Blu-ray from 12th November.

Based on JK Rowling’s award-winning fifth novel, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) find themselves in a magical and rebellious self defense organisation that battles against the Dark Arts. The star-studded cast joining them in this fantastical movie adventure filled with more danger, drama and action than ever before is Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Emma Thompson (Sybil Trelawney), Julie Walters (Mrs Weasley), Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore), Brendan Gleeson (Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody), Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), Jason Issacs (Lucios Malfoy), Warwick Davis (Filius Flitwick), Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley) and David Thewlis (Remus Lupin).

Synopsis

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community has been denied the truth about his recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort. Fearing that Hogwarts’ venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is lying about Voldemort’s return in order to undermine his power and take his job, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores Umbridge’s Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community, so at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry takes matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves “Dumbledore’s Army,” Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.

Watch your favourite DVD with Epson and Logitech

Epson, the No.1 seller in the projector market in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and in the world for the last 6 years, has today announced an exclusive promotion in conjunction with its award winning EMP-TW1000 projector.

The TW1000 is a projector for true home cinema enthusiasts. With next generation Epson technologies and full high definition resolution, it delivers stunning pictures every time. From movies to video games, and with lights on or off, every performance is superb.

For a limited period, those that purchase the Full HD, 1080p home cinema experience that is the EMP-TW1000 will receive a free Logitech Harmony 1000 Remote Control worth £279.

The Logitech Harmony 1000 Remote Control allows users to control their whole home cinema installation from one console so there is no need to have separate remote control units for the projector, DVD player, audio and motorised screen.

Features of the Harmony 1000 are:

Universal control, combines all remote control devices in one easy to use console

One-touch control via a 3.5” colour touch screen

Up to 15 components: control video, audio, games consoles – even lights and appliances

Learning port: Add favourite functions from older remote controls

Charging station: put the remote in its own home and forget about charging the batteries

Free support: Expect total customer satisfaction, whether it is a problem or just a question.

Further information on the Harmony 1000 can be found at: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/373&cl=gb,en.

THE FUTURE OF MOVIE MAKING

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU INTERNET

The internet is the inevitable way forward. Devolution not revolution.

The rise of the Independent film-maker against cinema’s Goliath (Hollywood) has been held up by the huge costs involved in commissioning, producing and distributing high-quality films. However, significant progress made in digital technology means that prohibitive cost need no longer be an obstacle to future independent film-makers. Devolution Digital (www.devolutionfilms.com) is a new website that was launched during this year’s MIPCOM event in Cannes and provides a platform for budding scriptwriters to upload their scripts onto a global medium to be rated and possibly selected to be made into high-quality feature length films using inexpensive digital filming, production and distribution methods. If you are a budding film maker without a budget then Devolution Digital could see your script made into a commercial success.

The founder of Devolution Digital, Graeme Ballard, explained that his vision for the site was simple – “The internet and advances in digital technology mean that ordinary people, wherever they are and whatever their background, can upload their stories, scripts and home-made movies and show them to the world. Devolutionfilms.com is designed to attract and identify the very best scripts from around the world and to then turn these into potentially award-winning independent features at a tiny fraction of typical Hollywood production costs. For those people who think they might just be the next Stephen Spielberg, or perhaps a new Pedro Almodovar, Devolutionfilms.com is their best chance of being discovered.”

There are three straightforward steps to the Devolutionfilms.com process. First, people that join the site will be able to judge and vote for scripts they and others upload, and they will also be able to suggest changes to storylines and make amendments to scripts, rather like on the hugely popular fanfiction sites (see fanfiction.net). Devolution Digital also employs a team of experienced staff writers to help with the judging process and to assist in maintaining the quality of the scripts submitted by the public. Once the scripts have been judged by the public and staff writers, then the process of turning winning scripts into feature films or a series of shorts can begin - using entirely digital technology. [Here of course the normal tax incentives for film-making will apply which helps to drive down the costs further.]

The final stage is to distribute the finished films or shorts on mobile tv platforms, 3G, the internet and DVD using Devolution’s own digital presence and that of its strategic partners, such as the telcos and existing internet content distributors.

One of the significant advantages of this model is that investors in movie production who are not normally able to invest in large capital expenditure films can spread their risk over a portfolio of smaller-budget movies being marketed and filmed concurrently.

Black Country 3D modelling needs your vote

A virtual reality model of the Black Country by Salford University researchers has helped shortlist an ambitious regeneration project for a televised national competition – which could win £50m Lottery funding.

Academics from the University’s ThinkLab designed and built a virtual model of the Black Country region for the Black Country Urban Park project, one of four contenders in The People’s £50m Lottery - the results of which will be broadcast on ITV in December 2007.

The competition relies on public votes and, if successful, the project will open up the Black Country region as an ‘urban park’ – integrating natural and built-up environments with visitor attractions and green spaces.

The University’s virtual reality model gives people a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the entire region as it currently exists, enabling them to zoom in on specific areas and access demographic data including employment statistics. If enough votes are cast and Black Country win, there will be potential to expand the model to demonstrate how the region’s environment will be transformed.

Professor Terrence Fernando who led the Salford University team said: “Our model is the first of its kind and was a key element of the bid, helping to interpret the ambitions plans to regenerate the Black Country.

“We’re hoping as many people as possible lend their support so we can go on to model the environmental transformation of the Black Country into an urban park.”

Chief Executive of the Black Country Consortium, Sarah Middleton said: “Virtual Black Country has been key in helping us to consult with stakeholders and partners about the flagship elements of the Urban Park bid. We are very pleased to working in partnership with Salford University on this cutting edge technology and delighted that colleagues in the North West are supporting us by voting for the project.”

Online and phone voting for The People’s £50m Lottery Giveaway opens at 9.00am on Monday 26 November and the final will be broadcast on ITV during December.

For more information on the competition go to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and www.voteblackcountryup.co.uk

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema Expands Global Presence

Exhibitors in over 12 countries deploy Dolby 3D Digital Cinema for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Beowulf release

San Francisco, November 15, 2007—Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) announced today that its Dolby® 3D Digital Cinema system will be available in 75 screens in 12 countries worldwide in time for the upcoming release of Paramount Pictures’ Beowulf, premiering November 16. By securing deals with dozens of exhibitors in Asia, Europe, and the United States, Dolby is revolutionizing theatrical experiences with its high-quality digital 3D solution. Dolby will continue installing additional screens during Beowulf’s two-week global opening.

“In a short time frame, the team executed an aggressive deployment plan to install Dolby 3D systems in theatres around the world for Beowulf, as we wanted to fulfill as many requests as possible from our valued customers,” said John Iles, Vice President, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. “With an unwavering commitment to a better 3D experience, we are confident that Dolby 3D will provide an exceptional presentation of Beowulf and other upcoming digital 3D movies.”

The Dolby 3D Digital Cinema solution brings high-quality 3D to every seat in a theatre:

· The ability for exhibitors to play back 3D content on a standard white screen provides moviegoers with an even image across the entire screen minus any hot spots or inconsistent light reflection.

· Dolby 3D full-spectrum color-filter technology provides amazing color fidelity, delivering clear 3D images with realistic color.

· Dolby’s color filter technology also maintains premium picture quality because the filter wheel is inserted into the light path before the image is formed, delivering a stable and sharp picture.

The result is crystal clear images and vivid colors that pop off the screen with an amazing sense of depth.

“We are thrilled with the quality of Dolby 3D Digital Cinema and excited to show Beowulf in Dolby 3D,” said Mike Thomson, Vice President Operations and Technology, Malco Theatres. “We will have the ability to play back 3D content on our big screen at the Malco Paradiso using Dolby 3D Digital Cinema. The large screen creates a 3D experience unlike anything we’ve been able to offer our patrons before.”

“Marcus Theatres recently debuted Dolby 3D Digital Cinema and our patrons have been very pleased with the presentation quality,” said Bruce Olson, President, Marcus Theatres. “Marcus strives to deliver the best moviegoing experience possible and we believe Dolby 3D reinforces that commitment.”

“Dolby is a trusted brand for providing technologies that dramatically improve the cinematic experience, as we have seen with Dolby Digital Cinema,” said Joost Bert, CEO, Kinepolis Group. “Kinepolis recently debuted Dolby 3D Digital Cinema at our newest cinema complex in Ostend, Belgium, and our patrons were very impressed with the sharp, clear, and bright images that seem to jump off the screen.”

To date, exhibitors using Dolby 3D technology have presented Walt Disney Pictures’ Meet the Robinsons and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D and in addition to Beowulf (Paramount Pictures/ Warner Bros.), are expected to show the upcoming 3D presentations of Fly Me to the Moon (nWave Pictures), Hannah Montana (Disney) and Journey 3D (New Line). For a complete list of Dolby Digital Cinema and Dolby 3D Digital Cinema locations, please visit www.dolby.com/consumer/motion_picture/ddcinemas/ .

Online vendor admits to selling counterfeit software

Crooks beware: Your buyers might be honey traps!

The Federation Against Software Theft (The Federation) has participated in the takedown of an illegal software ring run from a roofer’s home in Cornwall.

The perpetrators were caught when a Federation member posed as a buyer and bought an illegal copy of their own software from Philip Rogers of Redruth.

Rogers, and his accomplice, had been investigated for a number of failed and improper sales hosted on the online auction website eBAY. The Federation member, Primal Pictures, discovered Rogers selling its software and arranged a purchase to investigate. Not only did their test discover that the disc sold to them was a fake, but Primal Pictures found other buyers who had also been sold fakes.

John Lovelock, Chief Executive of The Federation said: “Primal asked The Federation to aid them protecting themselves from this theft of their intellectual property - property that they had spent time and effort designing, creating, publishing and distributing at considerable cost to themselves. We entered into correspondence with Rogers, informing him of our discoveries and letting him know that all our member wanted was for him to destroy the illegal stock of copied software he had manufactured, acknowledge that he had breached copyright, and enter into discussions regarding compensation.”

His admission of unlawful activity and signing of an undertaking not to do it again would be given weight in any subsequent legal proceedings which may arise. Rogers initially claimed that The Federation could not prove that he had sold the fake disc in question; however as the software creator that owned the copyright had actually bought it from him, evidence against Rogers was easily obtained.

Peter Allan, CEO of Primal Pictures said “As the unique worldwide provider of interactive anatomy software for the medical profession, we have very strict copyright protection on our products. Our software is the product of years of dedicated hard work by anatomists and computer graphic experts and it is used to train medical and surgical students all over the world. To have someone steal it and profit from the hard work of such talented people is unacceptable and potentially financially damaging. We went to The Federation to help us settle this without going to court, and we’re happy that the rogue seller has ceased his illegal activities so that we can stay in business.”

Lovelock added: “We’re glad to be able to help protect the smaller software vendors from criminals who have no conscience when it comes to stealing their hard work and putting them out of business. These creative firms are collectively the new ‘staple industries’ of the UK. They employ hundreds of thousands of people. If they get ripped off it’s ordinary people that they put out of work, and we are not going to stand for it.”