Smecky finishes taping music for new VeggieTales film
The Smecky Recording Studio, part of the Barrandov Studios complex in Prague, has wound up taping the music for the new animated megafilm The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, the…
Upcoming Czech docs previewed
A presentation of upcoming Czech documentary films was held this week in Prague. The presentation, in the style of a cabaret, was organised by the Czech Film Center (www.filmcenter.cz), Institute…
PFI-backed films reap seven awards in Venice
Films backed by the Polish Film Institute (www.pisf.org) won seven awards at the recent Venice Biennale. Paul Laverty won the Osella prize among the official awards for best screenplay in…
First Hungarian sci-fi feature aims for winter release
In an unusual move, a group of young filmmakers has completed principal photography on the self-financed Lines of Destiny, Hungary's first-ever sci-fi feature, and is readying it for a year-end…
Saviours Square in competition for European Film Awards
Saviour's Square, a film by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze, qualified as the sole Polish production among 42 films selected by the European Film Academy (www.europeanfilmacademy.org) for this year's European…
Lost Holiday video resurfaces as documentary film
A special preview is planned today in Prague for Lost Holiday, a unique Czech detective story about global communication which won a Crystal Globe at this year's Karlovy Vary International…
Four million euro pledged for Hungarian docs
Hungary's Motion Picture Foundation (www.mmka.hu), the state film fund, and Duna Television (www.dunatv.hu), the country's leading cultural channel, have pledged to add 100 million forints (€4 million) to fund documentaries…
First Estonian entry picks up main Venice prize
To the delight of the Estonian film community, the country's first-ever entry in the Venice Biennale's official lineup, Autumn Ball by debutant director Veiko Õunpuu, walked away with the main…
Polish Film Institute celebrates success in Venice
The Polish Film Institute is celebrating in Venice this year with five of the films it backed being selected for screening in the Biennale.
Wajda film Katyn opens Polish film festival in Gdynia
A screening of Andrzej Wajda's long-awaited film Katyń will be featured at the grand opening of the 32nd Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
Hungary submits Taxidermia for Oscar nomination
A Hungarian committee of film officials has selected Taxidermia, a controversial film dealing with "three stories, three ages, three men" and directed by György Pálfi, for consideration for the Academy…
UPC Czech Republic integrates Karneval
Czech cable company UPC Czech Republic, part of the U.S. group Liberty Global Inc., has completed the integration of Karneval Media.
Czech President Klaus offers some support for film sector
Czech President Vaclav Klaus, not known as an avid supporter of Czech cinema, now says he would be in favor of "modest support" for the film sector - an opinion…
Premiere of big-budget Bathory film postponed
The planned October release of Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko‘s big-budget film Bathory, the most expensive film yet originating in Central and Eastern Europe, has been delayed due to post-production problems
CME secures 60 percent ownership of Ukrainian broadcaster
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (www.cetv-net.com), which operates TV networks in six Central and East European countries, announced it has secured a 60% ownership in Ukraine's Studio 1+1, completing a…
Warsaw film fest to feature four competitive sections
About 150 films from all over the world will be screened at the 23rd Warsaw International Film Festival in October, including the Polish premieres of several films to be unveiled…
Ukrainian businessman Igor Kolomoisky buys into CME
Ukrainian billionaire Igor Kolomoisky has invested $110 million (€80.7 million) to acquire an interest in broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (www.cetv-net.com), which operates TV networks in six Central and…
Naming of new Agora chief signals move beyond press sector
Polish media company Agora SA (www.agora.pl) has named broadcast executive Marek Sowa as the new president of its management board in a move that signals a shift in focus toward…
Estonian cash reserve kickstarts production of historical epic
The Estonian government has released €640,000 from its contingency reserve to finance the production of a patriotic epic, a highly unusual step in a country with well-established national film funds.
Polish, British museums launch joint historical film project
Warsaw's newest museum, the Polish History Museum, has launched a joint project with a London museum to bring the modern history of Poland to the public through the medium of…
