RESTRUCTURING
Multinational cinema operatorCineworld‘s proposed restructuring now has the backing of most of its lenders, the company said on Thursday.
The restructuring, which was announced in April, “now has the support of lenders holding and controlling approximately 99% of the legacy facilities and at least 69% of the outstanding indebtedness under the debtor-in-possession facility of Cineworld and certain of its subsidiaries,” the group said in a statement.
Cineworld Group and its subsidiaries hadcommenced Chapter 11 casesin the United States Bankruptcy Court in September 2022. The group now expects to emerge from the Chapter 11 cases in July and will continue to operate its cinemas as usual without interruption, it said.
The lenders have also agreed to amended and restated versions of the restructuring support agreement and the backstop commitment agreement, which were filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court.
Cineworld owns the Regal cinema chain and is the second largest movie theater operator in the world. Its shares are listed in the U.K.
AWARDS
The Banff World Media Festival has revealed this year’s lineup of the Rockies Gala awards recipients.
INCLUSION AWARD: Garcelle Beauvais (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”). Presented by A+E Networks, the award recognizes an individual whose efforts and vision in media champion and reflect the diversity of the world
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: Alanis Obomsawin (“Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance”). The award recognizes the career of someone that has had a significant impact on the screen-based industries.
IMPACT AWARD: Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, World of Wonder. This award is bestowed annually to an individual or group that has made a significant and impactful contribution to screen-based entertainment.
INNOVATIVE PRODUCER AWARD: Sphere Media. Presented by Lionsgate, the award recognizes the entrepreneurial excellence and achievements of an independent producer in TV/digital media.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Sharon Horgan (“Bad Sisters”). Presented by PvNew, the award acknowledges exceptional achievement through a body of work over an extended period of time.
PETER USTINOV COMEDY AWARD: The award recognizes a creative talent who has made an outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry.
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: The award is presented to an acclaimed, ground-breaking, and/or highly rated program from within the last calendar year that not only has earned critical and audience success, but which also is provocative and has made an impact beyond the entertainment industry.
GRAND JURY PRIZE: The prize is chosen by the Rockie Awards international program competition grand jury.
The awards show will take place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada on June 13 and will be hosted by actor, singer, musician and comedian Craig Robinson.
Separately, the Creative Voice Award, which is bestowed on an executive or creative talent that has created outstanding work that breaks through, inspiring and connecting global audiences will be presented virtually to Jennifer Podemski (“Future History”) on June 11 as part of this year’s Indigenous Screen Summit.
COMMISSION
“The Playboy Bunny Murders,” true crime series from U.K. streamer ITVX will see journalist and filmmaker Marcel Theroux investigate a set of murders of young women that have remained unsolved since the 1970s and reveal a dark and violent side hidden beneath the wealth and glamor of exclusive corners of London’s nightlife at that time.
The 2 x 60′ series, produced by Soho Studios and Future Studios for ITVX, aims to unravel the mystery of the victims’ deaths, through unrivalled and exclusive access to friends, colleagues and relatives of the victims who provide an intimate insight into their lives and personalities as well as archive material from the time that will bring 1970s Mayfair to life.
“The Playboy Bunny Murders” is commissioned for ITV by Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of factual. It will be executive produced by Ian Lamarra for Soho Studios and John Farrar for Future Studios. Melissa Mayne will series produce with Sam Miller as series director.
BOX OFFICE
Leading Indian multiplex chain PVR Inox has revealed that Shinkai Makoto‘s latest anime “Suzume,” which released across the country in April with the director in attendance on a promotional tour, has grossed INR100 million ($1.2 million). “Suzume” is now believed to be the highest grossing Japanese film in India.
APPOINTMENT
Frederik Boutahar has been appointed as VP for A&R Columbia Records Germany, Switzerland and Austria (GSA), reporting into Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment for the region.
Leading the label alongside Alexandra Falken, VP Columbia GSA, Boutahar will focus on signing and developing major national and international artists, as well as building new talent. Boutahar was previously managing director of TwoSides and co-founder and managing director of the label and management agency Irrsinn, where he was instrumental in a variety of major campaigns and the success of artists such as AnnenMayKantereit, Faber, Von Wegen Lisbeth, Giant Rooks, Paula Hartmann, Edwin Rosen and more.
DOCS TO THE FORE
The WhānauMārama: New Zealand International Film Festival has unveiled eight documentaries selected to screen at the 2023 festival. They include 2023 Berlin festival winner “On the Adamant”; 2022 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight title “De Humani Corporis Fabrica”; Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s“The Grab”;“Ennio,”Giuseppe Tornatore’s tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone;“Merkel,” an engrossing look at the life and career of Angela Merkel; “Kokomo City,” whichexplores the lives of four black trans sex workers in New York and Atlanta; “Subject,” which explores the ethics and responsibility of documentary filmmaking; and Nina Menkes’s“Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power,”a feminist dissection of gender dynamics on screen and the connection to real-life discrimination and violence.
The NZIFF2023 will open in Auckland on July 19, followed by Wellington on July 27, Dunedin on Aug. 3 and Christchurch on August 10. The full programme will be announced in late June.
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Meanwhile, the inaugural season of Cinecitta Italian Docs at London’s Bertha DocHouse (June 24-25) will feature the U.K. premieres of a trio of acclaimed documentaries with the filmmakers in attendance. These will be presented in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute in London.
“A Steady Job” by Mattia Colombo and Gianluca Matarrese focuses on graduate nurses and healthcare workers in Italy who compete for just a few vacancies in their desperate search for job stability. “Wake Me Up at Midnight” by Francesco Patierno follows a young woman who has recently become a mother and decides to take her life by jumping from the top floor of a building. But that suicide attempt was unsuccessful, and today that young woman wants to understand. “Bella Ciao – the story beyond the myth” by Giulia Giapponesi recounts the mysteries, genesis and history of the iconic Italian protest song “Bella Ciao,” recently featured on the soundtrack of Netflix smash hit “Money Heist.”
GALA SCREENINGS
The Melbourne International Film Festival has set “Shayda,” by Noora Niasari, as its opening night gala screening. The film was supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund and won the audience prize earlier this year at Sundance. Another film to get the gala treatment is “Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story,” a tribute to an Australian music legend. The festival runs Aug. 3-20. Further lineup announcements will be made on June 8 and on July 11.
STREAMING
On the occasion of Africa Day on Thursday, Disney+ has revealed a July 5 streaming date for “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” a 10-part collection of original animated short films featuring stories from creators hailing from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The films are: “Stardust“ (Ahmed Teilab, Egypt), “Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer“ (Simangaliso “Panda” Sibaya and Malcolm Wopé, South Africa), “Hatima“(Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane, South Africa), “Enkai“ (Ng’endo Mukii, Kenya), “Moremi“ (Shofela Coker, Nigeria), “Surf Sangoma“ (Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green, South Africa), “Mukudzei“ (Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove, Zimbabwe), “First Totem Problems“ (Tshepo Moche, South Africa), “Herderboy“ (Raymond Malinga, Uganda) and “You Give Me Heart“ (Lesego Vorster, South Africa).
“Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” is executive produced by Peter Ramsey (co-director of the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”), alongside Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston from Triggerfish, the lead studio on this anthology.
The key art for the series, an original illustration by Nigerian artist and director Shofela Coker, the creator of the short film “Moremi,” was also released.
