CJ Enter HC D3 05_16_08 5/8/08 4:54 PM Page 1

the

3day dailyFriday, May 16, > from Cannes 2008 Rainbow D3 05_16_08.indd 1 5/14/08 8:54:37 AM day3_p1, 90_news_b 5/15/08 8:26 PM Page 1

the

q&a with Walter Salles day 3 See page 8 dailyFriday, May 16 > from Cannes 2008 THR.com Paramount to reign in Spain

By Pamela Rolfe producer Andres Vicente January 2009. PPI’s Spanish operation, and Stuart Kemp Gomez and his A. Zeta banner. The 12 handpicked titles from which will be up and running The move by the Hollywood Gomez are split between six this July, will be headed by for- aramount Pictures major is part of its ongoing ini- U.S. pick-ups and six Spanish mer Paramount Home Enter- International is ramp- tiative to set up standalone dis- productions. First out of the tainment marketing chief in ing up its overseas tribution outfits in key territo- block will be “Manolete,”star- Madrid Pierre Auger, PPI presi- activities with the ries around the globe in the ring Adrien Brody and Penelope dent Andrew Cripps said. launch of a Spanish wake of its split from UIP two Cruz. Cripps told THR that the deal operationP and a 12-picture the- years ago. A similar operation Highlights from the U.S. half with Gomez was central to the atrical output deal with veteran will be set up in Germany in dozen include “Young People company’s ambitions. He said Fucking,”“She Found Me” and that PPI has sat down with “Before the Devil Knows You’re Gomez and his team to choose Dead.” Paramount continues on page 90 Outsider gets period projects By Rebecca Leffler than 1.3 million admissions in rench banner Outsider France — is back Prods. will give audiences with a new slate Fan inside look at post- of projects. World War II Germany and August’s “Le 16th-century France with two Juge” (The new projects from directors Bil- August Judge), based in lie August and Bertrand Tav- Berlin in 1944, is ernier, both set to start shooting co-produced by Ilann Girard’s early next year. Arsam and will start shooting BELLY UP: Jack BlBlackack and The production powerhouse during the first quarter of 2009. Angelina Jolie on the behind 2005 boxoffice hit “Sky The €10 million-€15 million “Kung Fu Panda” red Fighters” — the French take on ($15 million-$23 million) Eng- carpet Thursday night. “Top Gun,”which drew more lish-language film is based on Outsider continues on page 90 ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Hyde Park pumps up WHAT’S INSIDE >Reviews. PAGE 12, 16, 74, 84 By Kirk Honeycutt Asia ops with fund >Screening guide. PAGE 18 artial arts movies have always had a REVIEW >Atelier feature. PAGE 25 certain cartoonish element, so Dream- By Liza Foreman >About Town. PAGE 96 MWorks’ martial-arts cartoon “Kung Fu Panda” makes perfect sense. Taking full advantage of Cinemascope’s wide shok Amritraj’s Hyde Park screen to splash quicker-than-the-eye action across striking Entertainment is expand- SPECIAL REPORT Chinese landscapes, animators led by directors John Stevenson Aing its Asian operations Italian Cinema and Mark Osborne deliver a movie that is as funny as it is frantic. with a multimillion dollar film 50th Anniversary. Though aimed primarily at youngsters, “Panda” embraces fund. (right) PAGE 31 humor that plays well across age groups and nationalities. Launching this fall, the fund “Kung Fu Panda” on page 16 will provide upward of $70 mil- Japan. PAGE 61

“KUNG FU PANDA” PHOTO: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES POUJOULAT/AFP/GETTY ANNE-CHRISTINE FU PANDA”“KUNG PHOTO: Hyde Park continues on page 90 FilmDepartment_D3_05_16_08.indd 1 5/13/08 4:24:53 PM FilmDepartment_D3_05_16_08.indd 2 5/13/08 4:24:59 PM ICB Entertainment Finance is proud to have provided the production fi nancing, in cooperation with Newbridge Film Capital, for Crystal Sky Pictures and Arad Productions for WowWee Limited Robosapien: Rebooted

Currently in production Crystal Sky Worldwide in Cannes: Carlton Suite 223 +33 493 064 223

Phone +1 818 254-2242 Fax +1 818 459-7082 www.icbef.com MEMBER FDIC

ICBRobo_05_16_08_REV6.indd 1 5/14/08 8:34:33 AM day3_p5, 92_news_c 5/15/08 8:01 PM Page 5

THR.com/cannes news Friday, May 16, 2008 | day 3 Going to extremes Leconte provokes with ‘Jerks’docu

By Charles Masters that it’s not Mus- lims that are tar- o we have the right to geted (in the car- caricature God? This icatures), but and other questions those who kill in involving religion and the name of that freedom of speech religion, it’s dif- Draised by the controversial Dan- Leconte ferent. It’s like ish cartoons depicting the the difference prophet Mohammed are exam- between the Inquisition and all ined by “It’s Tough Being Loved other Catholics. I wouldn’t put by Jerks,”a documentary by Torquemada in with Francis of Frenchman Daniel Leconte Assissi. The extremists know which unspools today as a spe- they’ll lose in debate, so they cial screening. spread terror to widen the gap Leconte says his aim is to between East and West, ‘Leonera’ lineup provoke healthy debate, even if between Islam and democracy.” Cast members, from left, Elli Medeiros, Rodrigo Santoro and Martina Gusman join that upsets some people due to The film follows the unprece- director Pablo Trapero on the red carpet for Thursday afternoon’s premiere. their faith. “We have to have dented 2007 trial of a French this debate, because when we newspaper for allegedly insult- do, we win the argument,”he ing the Muslim people, and with said. “As soon as you explain “Jerks” continues on page 92 Maybury’s ‘Wuthering’has its Heathcliff By Stuart Kemp Cannes sidebar Un Certain Regard on Thursday. ‘Totally,’dude: Teen Hayter mutates t least one half of the Bernstein described the casting crisis facing Heathcliff role as “one of the spies going big screen into helmer role A John Maybury’s most powerful and iconic “Wuthering Heights” has romantic roles” in cinema. By Rebecca Leffler By Gregg Goldstein been solved in the wake of Finance and sales outfit Natalie Portman’s sudden HanWay reps the title here. ames Bond will get a run rystal Sky decision to pull out of the Portman’s exit left the fin- for his money when Pictures has headline role of Cathy. anciers, sellers and producers JFrench production pow- C signed “X- Ecosse Films, the produc- rattled just days before the fest. erhouse Marathon Media Men” scribe tion house run by Robert HanWay Films is hoping to and Studio 37, the film arm David Hayter to Bernstein and Douglas Rae, have a replacement for Port- of Gallic telecom Orange, make his directo- which is producing the pic- man “within days” in the role bring Beverly Hills rial debut with ture, said they have secured of Cathy. teenagers-turned-secret two Hayter Michael Fassbender for the Written by Olivia Hetreed agents “Totally Spies!” to he will write. It role of Heathcliff. (“Girl With a Pearl Earring”), the big screen. also has nabbed ultimate fight- Fassbender stars in Steve the new adaptation plans to The €8 million ($12 mil- ing champ Roger Huerta for its McQueen’s “Hunger,”which steer away from “the stuffy lion) production based on Hayter continues on page 92 heralded the beginning of costume drama” format.∂ the hit series is being tar- geted for a summer 2009 release date in Gaul, through Mars Distribution. ‘Get Low’picks up financing from K5 Int’l The mix of traditional ani- mation and 3D, tentatively By Stuart Kemp Daniel Baur and Oliver Simon. titled “Totally Spies! The Produced by Richard Zanuck, Movie,”already has been aron Schneider’s “Get Low” Dean Zanuck and Harrison Zanuck, pre-sold to Benelux (films starring Robert Duvall and “Low” is written by Schneider, de l’Elysée), Italy (Mikado) A Sissy Spacek has sealed a co- C.Gaby Mitchell and Chris Proven- and Eastern Europe (SPI). financing deal with K5 Interna- zano and details the story of real- Daniel Marquet’s Groupe tional, the Germany and U.K.- life recluse Felix Bush. Spies continues on page 92 based worldwide sales and The movie is being pre-sold Duvall Spacek financier run by Bill Stephens, internationally by K5 here. ∂ “LEONERA” PHOTO: FRANCOIS DURAND/GETTY IMAGES “LEONERA” DURAND/GETTY FRANCOIS PHOTO:

THR.com | 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 5 day 3 | friday, may 16, 2008 | news

digest Bavaria back to basics Ritter eyes return to firm’s successful formula High spirits at Ko Lik Films Edinburgh-based stop-frame ani- By Scott Roxborough Past,’” Ritter mation outfit Ko Lik Films has said. drawn backing from BBC fter a turbulent couple of Ritter points to Scotland and executive producer years that have seen the upcoming liter- Bob Last for a feature-length ver- Aloss of two top executives ary epic “Bud- sion of the half-hour adventures and the rise of such local com- denbrooks — of ghost hunters Jeff and petitors as the Match Factory Decline of a Fam- Thurston, who debuted on the and Beta Cinema, Germany’s Ritter ily” starring Beeb’s Scottish outlet. The film Bavaria Film International is Armin Mueller- version will feature the return of going back to its roots. Stahl as examples of this new Peter Capaldi and Alex Norton, Thorsten Ritter, the sole head mainstream approach, while who voiced the original shorts. of Bavaria since the February Dorris Dorrie’s “Cherry Blos- The as-yet-untitled comedy will exit of co-director Thorsten soms” and Daniel Burman’s be helmed by the writer-producer Schaumann, is moving to refo- Argentinean hit “Empty Nest” team of Cameron Fraser and Neil Jack. cus the company by returning to exemplify the kind of art-house the kind of “accessible art crossover Bavaria plans to do Quartet join Celluloid on ‘Rabia’ house” and “ambitious main- more of. Celluloid Dreams is teaming with Spain’s Telecinco Cinema stream” films that made its Ritter says that Bavaria also is and Monfort Producciones, Colombia’s Dynamo and Mexico’s reputation. looking to regain its position as Tequila Gang on “Rabia,” written and directed by Sebastian “If you look back at the histo- the “No. 1 sales agent of choice Cordero, whose previous film, “Cronicas,” was presented at ry of Bavaria, our biggest suc- for German filmmakers,” Un Certain Regard in 2004. The $5.3 million romantic thriller cesses have been with titles recently extending its long- began principal photography in May on locations near San that, while they may have an running association with Hans- Sebastian, for eight weeks. Mexican actor Gustavo Sanchez art-house sensibility, have more Christian Schmid by picking up Parra and Colombian actress Martina García lead the cast. crossover appeal. Films like the director’s new doc with the ‘Run Lola Run,’‘Goodbye, working title “The Wonderful Huston, Ribisi take Lenin!’ or ‘The Man Without a World of Washing.” ∂ walk in ‘Forest’ Anjelica Huston, Giovanni Ribisi, Whitton rolls dice on new shingle Sean Austin and Ron Perlman are lending their voices to the By Stuart Kemp The first production will be English version of Dygra Films’ Gerry Lively’s “Yankee King,” Huston Ribisi animated “Spirit of the Forest.” veryone knows investing in starring Bill Campbell, Claire Manga Films will handle distri- moviemaking is more dan- Forlani and Rosemary Harris. bution in Spain, with a release date set for Sept. 5. Egerous than even real The shingle’s debut slate Hollywood Fantastic Films International handles internation- estate, but U.K. property entre- includes the directorial debut of al sales of “Spirit,” with its environmentally aware message. preneur Robert Whitton is up British thesp Simon Callow, The film already has sold to 30 countries. for a gamble. with a big-screen version of Whitton has teamed with pro- stage play “That Good Night.” Myriad operating at full ‘Capacity’ ducer Jo Gilbert (“Closing the Callow also is lined up to direct Ring”) to launch new banner the “In the Wings,”with Derek Myriad Pictures has picked up Real Holywood Production with Jacobi on the roster to star. worldwide rights to Terry Kinney’s “Diminished Capacity” some £20 million ($39 million) The company aims to pro- starring Matthew Broderick, Alan behind it, based in Holywood, duce three movies a year along- Alda, Virginia Madsen, Dylan Belfast in Northern Ireland. side TV dramas and docs. ∂ Baker and Bobby Cannavale. The comedy centers on a man with memory problems who heads on Oz market bridges gap for scribes a sick-leave road trip with his Madsen Broderick senile uncle. IFC holds U.S. rights By Stuart Kemp event will kick off a day before to the film and Myriad will rep it in Cannes. the festival begins on July 25. ustralia’s fledgling film co- The new section will be titled 37 Canal Plus sews up Dis, NL titles financing market and the South: Postscript & Direct. Acountry’s only one held Organizers also told THR it Pay TV group Canal Plus has grabbed multiyear broadcasting during a festival — 37 South: has given Mark Hartley’s “Not rights in France for catalog titles from Disney-ABC and New Bridging the Gap — is launching Quite Hollywood” finishing Line Cinema. Canal Plus will hold rights for TV, VOD and its a new section to cater to local funding from its Victoria state- new “catch-up TV” online viewing service broadcast for all screenwriters and directors hop- backed Premiere film fund. upcoming titles from Disney, and Touchstone ing to meet the event’s hand- Premiere fund manager Mark Pictures in addition to future seasons of its ABC series such as picked 70 producers from across Woods is currently in Cannes to “Desperate Housewives.” The pay TV network also will inherit rights to air New Line’s latest titles including “The Golden Australia and New Zealand. speak to sales agents about the Compass” and “Sex & The City: The Movie.” The deal comple- Organizers are extending the co-production event, but ments Canal Plus’ previous pacts with Universal, Fox, highly targeted meet and greet stresses that only decisionmak- Paramount, Dreamworks and -Columbia. as part of the Melbourne Inter- ers with cash get on the invita- national Film Festival. The tion list for the event. ∂

THR.com | los angeles 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 6 TaorminaFilmFest_D3_05_16_08.indd 1 5/12/08 6:38:08 PM day3_p8_Salles_c 5/15/08 4:14 PM Page 8

& THR.com/cannes q a Friday, May 16, 2008 | day 3

may have seen in Brazilian cinema about drug-dealing, or where there’s a conflict between vital stats police and kids. If you look at Walter Salles Brazil, the temptation for vio- lence and crime is there because Nationality: Brazilian there’s a high rate of unemploy- Born: April 12, 1956 ment. But only a very small per- Festival Entry: “Linha de centage will opt for violence and Passe,” In Competition crime — yet these are the ones Selected Filmography: “A Grande Arte” (1991), “Central who are portrayed. We wanted Station” (1998), “Midnight” to make a movie about the kids (1998), “Behind the Sun” (2001), who save themselves. “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004), “Dark Water” (2005) THR: So there’s a kind of socially Notable Awards: BAFTA for conscious element to it? best non-English-language film; SALLES: What films like “City Spain Film Critics Assn. Award for of God” did is very important “Central Station” (1999); Little because it brought to the surface Golden Lion at Berlin for “Behind the Sun” (2002); Prize of the a complex drama and created Ecumenical Jury at Cannes for awareness for problems that “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004); were there but were not seen by BAFTA for best non-English-lan- many people. But if all films guage film for “The Motorcycle resemble “City of God,”you’ll Diaries” (2005). end up with a biased under- standing of a society that’s much more complex. I liked that taken that courageous step. film a lot. But it reflected a cer- tain reality, and the reality of THR: Switching gears, do you look Brazil changes every two days. back at the earlier part of your ca- reer, especially “Central Station,” alter Salles’ career has been characterized by implausibilities. THR: One of your previous films, and find yourself surprised by how WIn 1998, a small Brazilian drama he directed called “Central “The Motorcycle Diaries,” tracked it’s all gone? Station” came out of nowhere to become an indie sensation and a Latin America that was in a SALLES: The funny thing is that garner two Oscar noms, including one for best actress. His foreign- sense also under construction. when we were shooting “Central language “The Motorycle Diaries” defied the odds and earned How do Latin Americans view that Station” in the middle of no- nearly $17 million in more than four months of U.S. release. And period now? where, Fernanda Montenegro and next he’s taking on an iconic book, “On the Road,” that no U.S. SALLES: “Motorcycle Diaries” I would look at each other and say director has succeeded in getting made. The Hollywood was about the story that preced- ‘will anyone be interested? I hope Reporter’s Steven Zeitchik spoke to the director Thursday morn- ed history. But the position our families will watch.’It was a ing after an all-night subtitling session in Paris for his latest movie, we’re in now is not that different nice surprise to see the impact “Linha de Passe,” a picture he co-directed with Daniela Thomas from the one 50 years ago. When the film had. ... Cinema is linked about four brothers facing challenges in modern day Sao Paulo. we shot, we were able to inhabit to risk and instability, and the scenes as if we were doing the desire for discovery. films in the ’50s. We didn’t have THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: tries to go back to the roots of to re-enact anything. It’s a THR: That discovery is something First off, we should say congratu- Brazilian film. It’s about four country that still needs to be that seems to happen a lot here. lations for getting the film done in brothers trying to break social discovered. At the same time, SALLES: If there is one place that time for the festival. barriers in four very different that affords a wealth of cine- still fights for and preserves a WALTER SALLES: I hope we did ways, and all four stories are matic opportunities. cinema with vision, it’s Cannes. get it done. I hope we put the based on real events. It’s a story It’s a place where you have a subtitles all in the right places. we wanted to do with real spon- THR: Such as Steven Soder- much better understanding of Otherwise, it’s going to become taneity, and that’s why you’ll bergh’s Che movies, which take on the world. Sometimes I wish more of an experimental film. find 95% of the actors are mak- the same character you did and politicians could stop what That could make for a very ing their screen debut. It aims will be at the festival, too. How do they’re doing and come. They’d interesting review in the Cahiers for the urgency and freshness of you feel about his undertaking? watch films from Iran and Turkey du Cinema. youth trying to find a way out. SALLES: I don’t know Steven. I’d and China and maybe go back like to applaud the fact that he and do their jobs differently. THR: That would be a problem. Of THR: But it doesn’t revel in those did these movies in Spanish, course, this film is not experimen- conditions as much as other because Ernesto Guevara fought For more Q&A tal but a slice of life in modern- movies have. for cultural independence and with Walter day Brazil. SALLES: This isn’t a film that language is a big part of that. Salles, go to THR.com/cannes SALLES: This is a project that can be linked to other films you Very few directors would have

THR.com | los angeles 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 8 ADVERTISEMENT

A TOUCH OF ASPEN IN NORTH CAROLINA Discover breathtaking Grey Rock at Lake Lure surrounded by North Carolina’s world famous Blue Ridge Mountains. By Adrienne Papp

Imagine for a moment discovering a resort tennis courts, an equestrian center, three location that offers all the scenic beauty helipads, parks, pavilions, libraries and of Aspen, Colorado, but without the over a multitude of hiking, biking, and horse development and a much greater upside trails. There are also approximately 50 for investment, which should be long term, nearby golf courses and great ski slopes stable and steady. within an hour’s drive. Nearby Asheville, That description fi ts a relatively undis- a 30-minute drive from Grey Rock, offers covered luxury resort located in North all the fi ne dining and nightlife anyone Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains could want. called Grey Rock. This 4,000-acre develop- From an investment point of view, the ment offers all the scenic wonders of a story only gets better. “We’re excited about national park, and tremendous potential the returns Grey Rock has generated,” for homeowners and investors. It’s an area says Berg. “Most have exceeded 100%, that’s been compared to Aspen in terms with the lowest being 40% on a property of natural splendor, but with a mountain- for a 7-month hold period. Another big ous location that makes it immune from advantage at the resort is that there are no invasive development. requirements to build, no minimum hold Grey Rock is located in southwestern period, and no restrictions on resales.” North Carolina near Asheville. It’s a With those advantages, it’s especially attrac- landscape of scenic waterfalls, numerous tive for Europeans who are benefi ting from streams and what National Geographic advantageous exchange rates these days. called “one of the most beautiful man- Grey Rock is shaping up to have the po- made lakes in the world,” Lake Lure. tential that Aspen had thirty years ago. It’s “The area also has a mild climate, four dis- a place that attracts buyers not only for its tinct seasons and some of the most breath- beauty and sense of serenity and privacy, taking views in the country,” says Ron Berg, but also for its economic potential. And, managing partner of investment consulting with its mountainous location, the area fi rm RnR Solutions, which has been active in Grey Rock. will never have to worry about being spoiled by over development With its national park-like atmosphere, it’s no surprise that Home or crowds. and Garden selected Grey Rock for their Dream Home of the Courtesy weekend getaways are currently off ered to the Year. Filmmakers have also used the area to shoot movies like HGTV Dream Home for interested parties and investors. Dirty Dancing, The Last of the Mohicans and many others. For more information please call 201.723.5171 Grey Rock will include two clubhouses, multiple pools, or visit www.rnr-solutions.com

Adrienne Papp 05_16_08_V2.indd 1 5/12/08 6:15:48 PM 5-16_can_Italian Films@50 e 5/14/08 7:29 PM Page 7

day 3 | friday, may 16, 2008 italian international film’s 50th | world

also did well, finishing among the top 10 films of the year, becoming the first Ital- ian film to earn more than $1 million on opening night and earning just under $20 million before its run was finished. “When I saw the script of the first film, I told my daughter (and the films’ co-pro- ducer Federica Lucisano) not to let it get away, no matter what the cost,”recalls IIF founder and president Fulvio Lucisano. “But I can’t say I knew it would be as pop- ular as it was.”The film is even being remade in France, according to Lucisano. Producers in other markets have also inquired about the rights. Fausto Brizzi, the writer and director of both films, was also surprised by the films’ From left, Andrea De Rosa, Cristiana Capotondi and Nicolas massive success.“I had in mind a kind of Vaporidis star in “Night Before Finals.” ‘Italian Graffiti,’” he says, referring to George Lucas’ classic 1973 film.“I knew the “When I saw the script of the and older viewers who grew up during story was a good one. But you never know that period. The sequel tells a similar what is going to resonate with the public.” first film, I told my daughter story in a contemporary setting and fea- Neither Lucisano nor Brizzi rule out the (and the films’ co-producer tures most of the same cast. possibility of a third installment in a few Both were huge successes at the box- years. “At first, Brizzi said he didn’t want Federica Lucisano) not to let office and with critics. “Notte prima degli to make a sequel,”Lucisano says, “but it get away, no matter what esami” was the third-top-grossing Italian then, when I started to go ahead with the film in 2006, taking in $24 million total, project using a different writer and direc- the cost.” earning more in Italy than Hollywood tor, he changed his mind and came along, — Fulvio Lucisano, films such as the animated hit “Cars” and which is what we wanted all along.” IIF founder and president Woody Allen’s “Match Point.”The sequel — Eric J. Lyman

toCongratulations Fulvio Lucisano for his achievement in 50 years of showbiz

THR.com | los angeles 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 57 LongTale_LFP_D3_05_16_08.indd 1 5/13/08 1:33:38 PM LongTale_POTH_D3_05_16_08.indd 1 5/13/08 1:32:01 PM TIFFCOM D3 05_16_08.indd 1 5/7/08 4:53:34 PM 5-16_cannes_japan d 5/14/08 7:58 PM Page 1

special report: Japan THR.com/cannes world Friday, May 16, 2008 | day 3 ry FIRESTORM The controversy surrounding Li Ying’s “Yasukuni” could impact future government financing of risky film projects.

Asian Provocateurs

TOKYO — In 1997, when she was just 27 years old, Naomi Kawase won the Camera d’Or at Cannes with “Moe No Suza- ku,”making her the youngest filmmaker to ever receive the By Gavin J. Blair award. With “Suzaku” also taking prizes at the Rotterdam and Singapore festivals, the future looked rosy for the talented young director. Kawase, by her own admission, is not the most accessible director, and her films, with their deliberate pacing and com- plex, introspective themes, are unlikely to ever have real mass- market appeal. Yet despite being feted by the national media Are edgy Japanese for her Cannes win, Kawase struggled to find backing and sup- filmmakers being port for her projects over the next decade. “It’s probably easier to get money from abroad for less marginalized by a lack mainstream films than it is to raise it in Japan,”says Azusa Soya of UniJapan (Japan Association for International Promotion of of government support? the Moving Image), a government-backed nonprofit that pro- motes the Japanese film industry abroad. “Backers are, of

THR.com | los angeles 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 61 AKSAV D2 05_15_08.indd 1 5/13/08 9:47:33 AM WORLD PREMIERE

Sci-Fi Action ¢ May 17 @ 12:00 hr. – PALAIS E Part ALIEN part EVIL DEAD – A spine-chilling, high velocity Sci-Fi thriller Mutant creatures are unleashed when researchers made the wrong ¢ May 19 @ 16:00 hr. – PALAIS E discovery. Eight survivors must be rescued from outpost beneath the earth. One survivor has a deadly surprise.

2008 CANNES – Market Stand: Palais 20.04A Booth Phone: +33 4.92.99.80.69 • CANNES Mobile: +33 6.34.49.32.42 MultiVisionnaire Media • international fi lm sales and marketing • www.multivisionnaire.com [email protected] • US Phone: +1 626.737.8357 • Fax: + 1 626.737.8642

MultiVisionnaire_D3_05_16_08.indd 1 5/9/08 5:30:33 PM 5-16_cannes_japan d 5/14/08 7:58 PM Page 2

day 3 | friday, may 16, 2008 japan | world

course, concerned about getting a return on their investment, and with the funding for “Compared to other countries, Japanese filmmakers so many films decided by committees or have a hard time getting any public funding. Only the consortiums, it can be difficult to get the go-ahead for many projects.” Agency for Cultural Affairs provides government Despite these difficulties Kawase’s money for domestic productions.” “Mogari No Mori” — a France-Japan co- — Azusa Soya, UniJapan production — took the 2007 Grand Prix at Cannes, the first Japanese film to win the award in 17 years. The film had been set to Japanese movie industry is a system where companies can also donate. In such cases open on only 10 screens in Japan, and even it is easier for people to get funding and to the money is distributed by another quasi- after her second Cannes triumph, this have a movie distributed abroad.” governmental body, the Japan Arts Council, increased to only 28. In France, meanwhile, Neither Kawase, nor any other Japanese which also decides who receives grants. Out the film opened at more than 70 theaters. director, had a film selected for competition of the entire JAC 2007 budget of ¥65.2 bil- On her return to Japan, Kawase met with at this year’s Cannes festival. lion ($629 million), movies, animation and the minister of economy, trade and industry “Compared to other countries, Japanese documentaries collectively received a total to present the case for more support of filmmakers have a hard time getting any of ¥159 million ($1.5 million). domestic filmmakers. “I told the minister public funding. Only the Agency for Cul- One project that was able to receive that I am a filmmaker but that I can’t make tural Affairs provides government money assistance through this channel is “Yasuku- a living from films,”she later explained at a for domestic productions,”UniJapan’s Soya ni,”Li Ying’s documentary about the con- press conference at the Foreign Correspon- says. “If it’s an international co-production, troversial Shinto shrine, which is dedicated dents’ Club of Japan. “The fact that I won then they can also get help from J-Pitch, to the memory of Japan’s war dead. The the Grand Prix in Cannes means it will be another public body.” Chinese-born, Tokyo-based director easier for me in the future to raise money for Although some of the money comes from received a ¥7.5 million ($72,000) grant from my next film — but what I want for the the Agency for Cultural Affairs, private the Japan Arts Council to help make the

After working on a number of projects, including “Tekkon Kinkreet” producing 2003’s “The Animatrix,” Arias was able to make 2006’s “Tekkon Kinkreet,” based on a manga of which he was a longtime fan. As well as being the first foreigner to take the helm of a Japanese anime feature, Arias took some novel approaches to creating a unique look for the film. “We had a set of tools that allowed us to simu- late hand-held camera work, dolly and aerial shots, and so on,” explains Arias. “Although anime purists reject some of this as an imitation of live-action.” “As for being the first foreign director of an anime, it was a nonissue to me until we began showing ‘Tekkon’ at international festivals,” con- tinues Arias, adding that he was baffled at the reaction of some U.S. anime fans who didn’t regard it as real Japanese anime. “It’s a bizarre argument — like saying only Italians can cook pasta.” Perhaps surprisingly to some, the attitude back in Japan was more accepting: In February “Tekkon” won the Japan Academy Award for best animated film. With an impressive résumé and experience in Hollywood, a big-budget U.S. animated film would appear be the next logical step, but Arias says he isn’t interested. “There aren’t that many projects that I think worthy of such a time-consuming and Western Star potentially draining enterprise as longform anima- tion. ‘Tekkon,’ for example, was a three-year project California-born filmmaker Michael Arias makes his — that’s a significant chunk of your life — so it has mark in the close-knit Japanese film sector to be something inspiring,” he says. Instead, Arias has made “Heaven’s Door,” an outhern California native Michael Arias has firmly established himself in the insular world adaptation of the road move starring German of Japanese anime, and now the former software designer is trying his hand at live-action heartthrob Til Schweiger. While shooting the film, Sfilmmaking with a version of the 1997 German movie “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” which has been rewritten and set in Japan, Arias A resident of Tokyo for most of the last 16 years, Arias worked on special effects for Hollywood says he encountered some inevitable challenges movies like 1989’s “The Abyss” before making the move to Japan. After studying Japanese in col- in making the leap to live-action. “There are lege, Arias ended up working in CG animation and spent six years writing software. His big break many shots you just can’t pull off because of came when his Softimage Toon Shaders software was used on director Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 physical limitations. In animation, one doesn’t blockbuster “Princess Mononoke.” The package, which helps CG look like hand-drawn and painted have those sorts of restrictions,” he observes. “In images, was also picked up by DreamWorks for 1998’s “The Prince of Egypt” and used again by the end, though, I think the task of directing — Miyazaki for 2001’s “Spirited Away,” which won an Oscar and remains Japan’s highest-grossing film. live-action or animation — is not so different. The “The software being used for ‘Mononoke’ gave me an inroad into the Japanese anime world — technology is worlds apart, of course, but the it’s a kind of cottage industry centered round a relatively small group of people,” Arias says. grammar of film is the same.” – Gavin J. Blair

THR.com | los angeles 323.525.2000 | new york 646.654.5000 | london +44.207.420.6139 | beijing +86.10.6512.5511 (ext. 121) 64 Cinema Do Brasil D3 05_16_08.ind1 1 5/14/08 10:04:17 AM