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Geographical Region: South America

Universal Headline News

Kennedy/Marshall Headed for Sony

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are set to leave Universal Pictures, per VARIETY, and will have a first-look deal at Columbia Pictures that starts April 1.

The frequent Steven Spielberg collaborators, who started their company in 1991, will be at Columbia for an 18-month term. Their last Universal film was THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM.

Festival Headline News

Savannah Film Festival Accepting Entries for 2009

The Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, is accepting entries for the 2009 festival, to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 7. Featuring the best in independent, innovative and influential film from around the world, the annual festival presents a full range of cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. Features, documentaries, professional and student shorts, both live action and animated, will be considered. All entries must be postmarked by July 6.

Headline News

Writing Team Brandt, Haas to Pen Thirteenth Hour

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas have been hired by New Line Cinema to turn Richard Doetsch's upcoming novel THE THIRTEENTH HOUR into a screenplay, according to VARIETY. Michael De Luca is producing.

Brandt and Haas (WANTED, 3:10 TO YUMA), recently adapted Robert Ludlum's THE MATARESE CIRCLE for MGM and director David Cronenberg and likely will star Tom Cruise along with Denzel Washington. They are also working on a new BEVERLY HILLS COP installment for Eddie Murphy and director Brett Ratner at Paramount.

Animation Headline News

Kalamazoo Cartoon-Creating Competitors Set

Ten teams from animation programs spanning North America will engage in a "24/4" cartoon-creating competition prior to the start of the fifth Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI) scheduled for May 14-17 in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Earning spots in the competition for the 2009 "Cartoon Challenge" are four- and five-person teams from:

-- San Jose State University in California.-- College for Creative Studies in Detroit.-- Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.-- South Dakota State University.

Film Headline News

Total Recall Getting Recalled to 2009

Columbia Pictures and Neal Moritz's Original Films are in final discussions for a contemporary version of TOTAL RECALL, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

The 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action film was directed by Paul Verhoeven and based on Philip K. Dick's story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," which explores Dick's favorite topic of reality vs. delusion.

Licensing Headline News

New Sales for Franny's Feet

DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media, has scored further deals for its property FRANNY'S FEET (52x22 or 104x11) including sales into new territories.

Disney Channel U.K. has licensed season three and renewed its commitment to the first two seasons. In addition, Italy's RAI has picked up all three seasons with RTV Slovenia renewing season one and TV3 Catalunya in Spain and IRIB in Iran acquiring seasons one and two. The deal with RAI was brokered through Gary Kallenbach.

Game Headline News

Microsoft's Don Mattrick to Deliver GDC Canada Keynote

Don Mattrick, SVP of Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, will deliver a keynote address at the inaugural Game Developers Conference Canada (GDC Canada). Mattrick leads the Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows businesses at Microsoft.

Film Headline News

Green Hornet Stings Michel Gondry

Michel Gondry is in negotiations to direct Columbia Pictures' THE GREEN HORNET, starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow. The screenplay is by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, who will also executive produce. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film through his Original Film production company. The film will begin shooting this summer and is set for release June 25, 2010. The film will also be exec produced by Michael Grillo.

Chow dropped out as director in December, but is still a part of the project, playing sidekick Kato.

Marvel Headline News

Hasbro, Marvel Extend Strategic Licensing Agreement Through 2017

Hasbro will retain rights through 2017 to make toys and games based on new Marvel and Columbia Pictures theatrical releases and on Marvel's globally popular portfolio of superhero brands, including franchises such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Avengers, X-Men, Thor and Captain America.

Headline News

PorchLight and Hidden City Games to Ride Together

PorchLight Ent. has partnered with Hidden City Games to create an animated television series and long-form film content based on the magical world of BELLA SARA horses. Under the agreement, PorchLight will have worldwide rights to the animated productions based on the BELLA SARA brand, and will simultaneously pursue feature and direct-to-DVD opportunities.

Headline News

Berry Big Plans for Strawberry Shortcake in 2009

Building on STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE's enduring appeal, American Greetings Properties and Cookie Jar Ent. are continuing to fuel the brand's growth in 2009, both in the U.S. and internationally, with a slate of new product and entertainment launches.

Created and owned by American Greetings, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE has generated more than $2.7 billion in worldwide retail sales since the brand's re-launch in 2002, and it continues to be a favorite among young girls and parents.

Kids Headline News

Nickelodeon Announces 2009 Kids' Choice Award Nominees

Kid faves/superstars who've notched a spot among the A-list of nominees for coveted Kids' Choice Blimp trophies in Nickelodeon's 22nd Annual Kids' Choice Awards -- the kudos/mess-fest to be telecast live from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion Saturday, March 28 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) -- include: Jennifer Aniston, Beyonce, Jack Black, Chris Brown, Jim Carrey, Miranda Cosgrove, Miley Cyrus, America Ferrera, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Vanessa Hudgens, The Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, George Lopez, Michael Phelps, Adam Sandler, Will Smith, Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Nat Wolff and Tiger Woods.

Online Headline News

Moviegoers Follow the Angels & Demons Path of Illumination in Online Contest

On May 15, 2009, famed Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon will follow the Path of Illumination in order to thwart the Illuminati's plot to commit unspeakable acts of violence in their quest to destroy the Vatican in Columbia Pictures' ANGELS & DEMONS.

Online moviegoers from seven countries will have the chance to follow their own path with the Angels & Demons Path of Illumination Contest on www.AngelsAndDemons.MSN.com.

Show Headline News

Mediatoon's Garfield Lazy No More

Last purchased by Rede Record in Brazil, Mediatoon's THE GARFIELD SHOW is due for broadcast in 2009 in the U.K., Scandinavia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Australia/Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Produced by Dargaud Media, THE GARFIELD SHOW is 52 episodes of 11 minutes shot in HD, about Garfield's day-to-day life, blending the modern look of CGI animation and familiar humor of the orange tabby cat.

Series Headline News

4Kids Sends Chaotic to Germany, Turkey and Others

4Kids Ent. has signed broadcast agreements with RTL2 (Germany) and Digiturk (Turkey) to air the first season of the CHAOTIC animated TV series, as well as agreements with TEN NetworkMBC (Middle East Broadcasting) and Rede TV (Brazil) to air the series' second season, entitled CHAOTIC: M'ARRILLIAN INVASION.

This follows the recent pickup of CHAOTIC's second season by TELETOON in Canada and Disney/Jetix Latin America.

Animation Headline News

Sarnoff Departs Sony Imageworks

Tim Sarnoff has resigned as president of Sony Pictures Imageworks amid a "smooth transition" for the Oscar-winning vfx division under the new Sony Pictures Digital Prods. (SPDP) umbrella formed last year. Sarnoff, who has led Imageworks since 2001, joined the company in 1997 as EVP and GM.

Interactive Headline News

City Interactive USA Signs Pub Deal with Nintendo

City Interactive has signed an agreement with Nintendo of America to develop and publish titles for the Nintendo DS and Wii.

City Interactive is an international video game publisher and developer. With a broad range of high-quality products for PC, handhelds and next-gen consoles, City Interactive aims to offer affordable games for casual and special interest gamers. With a presence in more than 40 markets on four continents, City Interactive has four in-house development studios located across Poland and Peru.

Headline News

Harryhausen Producer Charles Schneer Dies

News reports say producer Charles H. Schneer, who worked with Ray Harryhausen on many of his special effects epics, has died at the age of 88 in Boca Raton, Florida. Schneer passed away on Jan. 21.

Schneer got his start at Universal, then worked with Sam Katzman's B-picture unit at Columbia, where he met Harryhausen while the special effects creator was working on his giant octopus feature IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA.

Anima Headline News

Anima Mundi 2009

Anima Mundi 2009Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, BrazilJuly 10-26, 2009Deadline: March 25, 2009

The International Animation Festival of Brazil, Anima Mundi 2009 takes place from July 10 to 19 in Rio de Janeiro and from July 22 to 26 in Sao Paulo.

Submit your work for this year festival's edition. The deadline for entries is March 25.

Go to their website for an online entry-form, entry rules and transportation label at: www.animamundi.com.br. If you need additional information send email to: info@animamundi.com.br.

Headline News

Columbia Wins Asimov's Foundation

In an auction that concluded late Thursday, Columbia won the screen rights to FOUNDATION, the sci-fi trilogy by Isaac Asimov, per VARIETY. Roland Emmerich will direct the film.

Emmerich and Centropolis partner Michael Wimer are producing. FOUNDATION was originally published as a series of eight short stories in ASTOUNDING magazine in 1942 and is about humans scattered on planets throughout the galaxy living under the rule of the Galactic Empire.

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