A Hope by Stephen Chow

Hong Kong/Los Angeles March 30, 2007 – Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia announced the worldwide acquisition, excluding China, of Stephen Chow’s latest comedy feature, presently titled A HOPE. The multi-talented Chow wrote the screenplay, directed and is starring in the film which was shot in China late last year. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in North America.

One of Asia’s biggest stars, Chow’s KUNG FU HUSTLE achieved a theatrical box office gross of over $100 M worldwide. It was nominated for a Golden Globe, and won a total of 5 awards, including Best Film and Best Director, at Asia’s equivalent of the Oscars, the Golden Horse Awards. This latest feature marks the second collaboration between SPE and Chow’s The Star Overseas Ltd.

Gareth Wigan, Vice Chairman of Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group commented:
“Following our extremely successful partnership on KUNG FU HUSTLE, Sony is delighted to be working again with the exceptionally talented Stephen Chow whose original vision and unique comic humor will continue to surprise and delight audiences and has proven global appeal.”

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, Co-Presidents of Sony Pictures Classics stated, “It is a joy to work with Stephen Chow and we are thrilled to be bringing his latest film to American audiences."

Stephen Chow added: “I had a wonderful experience with Sony on KUNG FU HUSTLE, and I look forward to an equally rewarding collaboration on this latest project.”


A fantasy tale featuring state of the art visual effects, A HOPE is a comedy about a poor laborer father played by CHOW and his young son. When a fascinating and strange new pet enters their lives, they learn a poignant lesson about the true nature of family and the things money can’t buy.

A HOPE is the fifth feature directed by Stephen Chow. His previous feature KUNG FU HUSTLE was the second highest grossing film in Hong Kong history after TITANIC. Chow made his directorial debut with GOD OF COOKERY in 1996, followed by KING OF COMEDY in 1999, both of which he also wrote and starred in. In 2001 Chow directed, wrote, and starred in SHAOLIN SOCCER, the fourth highest grossing film of all time at the Hong Kong box office which also broke box office records across Asia. SHAOLIN SOCCER went on to win seven major awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Sound Design and Best Visual Effects.

Capture the fun and laughter of Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd Final Season

Following a near decade-long whirlwind of Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, Singapore's longest running pioneer sitcom finally says b-b-bye!

Catch

Phua Chu Kang, his slimwrap-addict wife Rosie, mousy younger bro Chu Beng and his uppidy, snooty sis-in-law Margaret as they encounter dangerous femme fatales, murder attempts, babelicious reporters, trippy fantastical fun, incredible tales and silly challenges in the final season of Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd.

The group churns out more fun and laughter with special appearance of Ricky Martin, Lydia Sum, Zoe Tay, Maia Lee, Amy Cheng, Brian Richmond, Jocelin Yeo etc…

Can’t get enough of the rascally antics and outrageous misadventures of our favourite lovable beng family? Re-live the comical moments on DVD and VCD.


Product Details

Release Date: VCD Available Now/ DVD: Tentatively 5th April 2007

Rating/ Consumer Advice: PG

Dialogue & Subtitles: English with Chinese/ Malay subtitles

DVD Extras: TV trailers

Recommended Retail Price:

VCD $19.90 before GST (VCD; 6 discs set)

DVD $ 26.90 before GST (DVD; 2 discs set)

The Most Anticipated Release of The Year - Linkin Park Is Back To Thrill with MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT !

Disney Digital 3-D™ Meet the Robinsons Screens Exclusively at GV VivoCity from 30th of March

Starting from 30 March 2007, GV VivoCity invites movie goers to experience Meet the Robinsons, an exciting new computer-animated feature, in spectacular Disney Digital 3-D™. Golden Village will be the exclusive exhibitor in Singapore showing Meet the Robinsons in both 3-D and 2-D formats. This will be the first time ever in Singapore that these two versions of a movie will be premiering simultaneously in a cinema.

As the cinema industry leader in Singapore, Golden Village is proud and excited to be the exclusive Singapore 3-D Digital exhibitor for Disney¡¯s Meet the Robinsons, at our beautiful 6-month-new flagship, GV VivoCity. We will also be showing the movie in 2-D at all our cinema locations. This is the first time both formats are simultaneously opening ¨C it will truly be a new domain of cinematic ecstasy!

The Disney Digital 3-D™ version of Meet the Robinsons will be shown exclusively in GV VivoCity Hall 2, which is currently the only cinema in Singapore that can screen Digital 3-D films. Tickets for all performances can be purchased at all GV box offices, online at www.gv.com.sg, or by calling 1-900- 912 1234. Rendered in Disney Digital 3-D™ since the very beginning of its production, Meet the Robinsons is following the adventures of Lewis, a boy-genius with a love of gizmos and gadgets, and an undying hope of finding the family he never knew. But Lewis' journey takes him to a place even he couldn't have imagined, a place where the impossible no longer exists: the future. When he encounters a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, he's in for the time-travel of his life as he is whisked off to meet a family unlike any other - the sublimely fun and futuristic Robinsons - who will help him discover a series of amazing and heartfelt secrets about his own limitless potential. Filled with unforgettable characters, clever contraptions, classic villains, and a wide assortment of eye-popping surprises, Meet the Robinsons is a film for all family members.

SCREENING DETAILS

Meet the Robinsons in Disney Digital 3-D™ will screen exclusively at GV VivoCity from 30th March 2007.



Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Venue: GV VivoCity, Cinema 2

Address: GV VivoCity, No 1, Harbourfront Walk

VivoCity, #02-30, Singapore 098585

Price: Ticket prices range from $8.00 to $10.50

Telephone bookings: 1-900-912 1234



For full ticketing prices and session times, please log on to www.gv.com.sg

Meet the Robinsons will also be screened in 35mm format in GV Cinemas.

WORLDWIDE TRAILER LAUNCH EFFORT FOR WALT DISNEY PICTURES’ “PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END” RESULTS IN UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL VIEWERSHIP

Worldwide Audience in Excess of 350 million Viewers Watched Brand-New Trailer via Broadcast & Online Placement



As a result of a carefully coordinated global launch effort, the theatrical trailer for Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” has reached the largest worldwide audience ever for a theatrical trailer debut, capturing more than 350 million viewers in a 24-hour period.

The trailer launch commenced on Monday, March 19th, with its initial debut during the season premiere ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” (8-10PM EST/PST), which captured a nationwide audience of more than 22 million viewers, making it a clear ratings champ and the #1 show for the evening.

Immediately following the broadcast, over 13 million fans viewed the trailer in a 24-hour period, due to a globally synchronized online debut effort in over 30 countries across the globe. Within 48 hours, there were over 25 million views around the world. In the U.S., Yahoo.com had the High Definition exclusive and broke the previous HD for the most views [1.1 million views] in one day. Internationally, top placement was negotiated with key online partners [Yahoo, MSN, ProSieben], in tandem with a domestic partnership with Yahoo! and Disney.com. Viral countdown players were also seeded online, allowing fans from around the world to debut the trailer on their own websites and personal pages.

Simultaneously, the international broadcast television “roadblock” rolled out in 61 countries worldwide, with simulcasts on popular programs and primetime new shows in such countries as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Korea, and Latin America and Russia – amounting to a never-before-captured audience of more than 300 million viewers across the globe, with Japan alone pulling in an impressive 52 million viewers.

Commenting on the efforts, Jim Gallagher, President, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing said, “While we expected a good degree of anticipation and enthusiasm for the new trailer – the final figures for viewers across the globe over the past few days have truly exceeded our wildest expectations. I am proud of our efforts on behalf of coordinating the Worldwide Trailer Launch for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ and am thankful for the cooperation of all of our partners worldwide who helped make this an incredibly successful endeavor.”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” picks up where the record-breaking 2006 smash hit left off, with heroes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones’ locker. With the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, and its commander Davy Jones under the control of the East India Trading Company, there is havoc on the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, the heroic trio must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final titanic battle – as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way hangs in the balance. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, the beloved cast sets sail again on a fresh new adventure in May 2007.

ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2007

The Cathay Cineplex, Hall 5, 2 Handy Road
30 March (Friday) to 3 April (Tuesday)
Tickets at $10 each; Concession Tickets at $9 each for Students & Singapore Film Society Members
(upon presentation of valid identity)
Tickets available from 22 March 2007 at the following locations:
- Box Offices at The Cathay, 2 Handy Road
- Box Office Counter 1 at Cathay Cineplex Causeway Point
- Coke Red Lounge at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard Level 5
- http://tickets.cathay.com.sg


1. Opening Film
Someone To Run With

Year 2006
Genre Drama
Runtime 118 min
Language Hebrew with English subtitles
Rating NC16 - Drug References
Website http://www.someonetorunwith.com

Note Based on the novel by pop writer David Grossman
Producers Andrew Braunsberg, Philippa Kowarsky
Director Oded Davidoff
Cast Bar Belfer, Yonatan Bar Or, Yuval Mendelson, Rinat Matatov, Tzahi Grad

17 year-old Assaf has to track down Tamar, the owner of a lost Labrador and is drawn into her quest into Jerusalem's underworld, evolving into a story of courage, commitment, self-discovery and adulthood.

'Someone to Run with' captures the original’s unrelenting pace, suspense and heartfelt drama as it sends viewers on a riveting ride through the streets of Jerusalem at the end of a Labrador’s leash. Assaf, a shy, awkward 17 year-old, is yanked from his mundane summer job and given an impossible task: to track down the owner of a lost Labrador found wandering the city streets. As he follows the dog on its circuitous rounds, Assaf begins to piece together the incredible story behind the owner’s disappearance, a story that captures his imagination and draws him in: the story of a girl named Tamar. One month earlier, Tamar, a gifted musician, embarks with her dog on a desperate quest into Jerusalem’s seamy underworld, and becomes ensnared in its dark clutches. Assaf, smitten by the mysterious girl he has never met, has no choice but to set off running after Tamar’s footsteps. The film follows Assaf and Tamar on parallel timelines, highlighting the distance between them and the loneliness they must endure until their narratives finally converge. For the two, this will be an accelerated journey into adulthood, a test of courage and commitment, and a story of self-discovery and first love.



2.
Dear Mr. Waldman

Year 2005
Genre Drama
Runtime 90 min
Language Hebrew with English subtitles
Rating M18 – Sexual Scenes
Website http://www.dearmrwaldman.com
Director Hanan Peled
Cast Rami Heuberger, Jenya Dodina, Ido Port

10 yr old Hilik's purpose in life, to make his parents happy due to the loss they suffered in the Holocaust, is tested when his father sinks back into the past, believing his other son had escaped to America.

In the early sixties, Hilik, a ten years old boy who lives in Tel Aviv, knows he's got a goal in life - to make his parents happy and compensate for the grief and loss they had suffered in the holocaust. The balance in the fragile family has been breached when Moishe, Hilik's father, chooses to believe that his lost son, from his first marriage, didn't die in Auschwitz as he thought, and somehow escaped to America to become President Kennedy's assistant. As he has never really accepted the fact that he is the only survivor from his family, Moishe is sinking back to his past. Torn between his fear that his father would abandon him, and the wish to make him happy, Hilik chooses to test his father's love to him, while accepting the risk of losing him.


3.
Nina's Tragedies

Year 2003
Genre Drama
Runtime 106min
Language Hebrew with English subtitles
Rating M18 – Sexual Scenes and Coarse Language
Website http://www.filmfund.org.il/page.aspx?section=656&mode=movie&itemid=2216
Director Savi Gabizon
Cast Ayelet Zurer, Yoram Hattab, Anat Waxman, Along Abutbul, Aviv Elkabelh

Nadav learns about love, family and sexuality through his broken family and his aunt Nina.

Nadav, a 14 year-old boy, tells the story of his torn family: his parents divorce, his dying father, his wild and promiscuous mother and most of all, the story of his beautiful, wonderful and sexy aunt Nina. After the death of Chaimon – Nina’s husband, Nadav is asked to move in with her. For Nadav, who is totally obsessed with Nina, this is beautiful, period. Nadav helps Nina recover and feels like assuming the role of "the man" in her life. Nadav's "ideal" setting is shattered when a new man enters Nina's life. Hurt and betrayed, Nadav tries to fight for her heart until he gives up. In the process, he understands something new about love, family, sexuality and himself.



4.
Summer Story

Year 2003
Genre Drama
Runtime 90min
Language Hebrew with English subtitles
Rating NC16 – Some Nudity
Website http://www.filmfund.org.il/page.aspx?section=656&mode=movie&itemid=1663

Festivals Montpellier - 2004 - Panorama
Director Shmuel Haymovitz
Cast Moshe Folkenflik, Aya Koren, Albert Ailuz, Kosta Kaplan, Itamar Cohen

13 yr old Gal decides to go to Lebanon during the war to look for the soldier his friend Haya (who has a fatal disease) has fallen in love with.

The Summer Vacation, of 1982, The time of the Lebanon war. Gal a mischievous 13 Years old boy delivers the mail in his small agricultural village. His post route leads him to Haya, a 19 years old girl with a serious heart disease who finds comfort in writing and receiving letters from the soldiers fighting in Lebanon. A special relationship develops between the two. Haya's condition deteriorates and Gal out of care for her, decides to go to Lebanon and look for the one soldier Haya has fallen in love with.


5.
Things Behind The Sun

Year 2005
Genre Drama
Runtime 100min
Language Hebrew with English subtitles
Rating M18 – Some Mature Content
Website http://www.filmfund.org.il/page.aspx?section=656&mode=movie&itemid=1915
Director Yuval Shafferman
Cast Sandra Sade, Tali Sharon, Tes Hashiloni, Zohar Strauss, Asi Dayan

A look into the complex characters and lives of the Grossman family when the grandfather is hospitalised.

'Things behind the Sun' offers a glimpse into the Grossman's family life, each struggling to find love and intimacy while insisting on sealing themselves from each other. When Abraham, the Grossman family's grandfather is hospitalized in a grave manner, Itzhak, his only son, finds himself confronted with a father whom he hasn't spoken with in many years. Itzhak seems incapable of expressing his inner distress, even to his closest. Meanwhile, Smadi, Itzhak's wife, has her first gallery exhibition which exposes for the first time dark family secrets. Didush, the family youngest, is set to decipher each of her family members' riddles. By secretly visiting a grandfather, whom she has never met and constantly asking questions none of the Grossman's wishes to answer Didush will embark on a journey set to reach, touch and piece together those so close yet so detached from her, or even their own selves.

WORLDWIDE TRAILER “ROADBLOCK” DEBUT FOR WALT DISNEY PICTURES’ “PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END”

Anticipated to reach the largest worldwide audience ever for a theatrical trailer debut, an estimated 200 million+ viewers in 62 countries, 31 languages, across five continents and spanning over 12 time zones will experience for the very first time Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” This global “roadblock” will reach an unprecedented number of worldwide territories, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group.

The brand-new trailer will debut in the United States on Monday, March 19th, during the season premiere of ABC’s immensely popular show, “Dancing with the Stars” (8-10PM EST/PST). Immediately following the broadcast debut, the trailer will premiere online in over 30 countries and in 26 languages as part of a synchronized online trailer launch.

Following its domestic and online debut, the international broadcast “roadblock” will introduce the trailer within a 48-hour period around the world, with simulcasts on popular programs and primetime new shows in such countries as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Korea, and Latin America and Russia. In addition to the broadcast launches, each territory will partner with print and online outlets to maximize exposure.

In Singapore, the worldwide trailer debut kicks-off on Tuesday, March 20th on MediaCorp Channel News Asia at 8.30pm followed by a TV Mobile broadcast. MediaCorp Radio, 8Days magazine and MediaCorp Online provide cross media support for this trailer debut.

Fans will then be able to see the trailer for the first time in a cinema environment on one of the widest screens in Asia as it plays on March 21st at GV Max, Golden Village, VivoCity. As an additional treat, a special free screening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” will be held following the cinema trailer premiere. The trailer will go wide across all cinemas beginning March 22, Thursday.

The trailer will make its online premiere in High Definition at Yahoo! Movies (http://movies.yahoo.com), home of the largest collection of High Definition movie trailers and clips follow by a number of top movie and media portals locally. Simultaneously, it will launch on the newly re-designed http://Disney.com, and via the “Pirate Viral Player” (http://pirates.movies.com) which can be added to websites, social networking pages and blogs, and will feature a continuous feed of Pirates video content through the film’s release. In Singapore, the trailer will be featured at www.pirates.com.sg

Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” opens on May 25th everywhere, and in Singapore on May 24. Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film reunites stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Naomie Harris and many more favorite characters, and introduces Chow Yun-Fat as a brand new addition to the Pirates story.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, “‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s end is generating a tremendous amount of excitement all over the world, and we are thrilled to be introducing the movie trailer to a global audience of this magnitude through a series of events including this unprecedented worldwide broadcast and online ‘roadblock.’ We are excited to be able to give fans a first look at this latest film, which promises to answer the questions previously posed in ‘Curse of the Black Pearl’ and ‘Dead Man’s Chest.’ This is one film you are not going to want to miss.”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” picks up where the record-breaking 2006 smash hit left off, with heroes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones’ locker. With the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, and its commander Davy Jones under the control of the East India Trading Company, there is havoc on the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, the heroic trio must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final titanic battle – as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way hangs in the balance. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, the beloved cast sets sail again on a fresh new adventure in May 2007.

National Museum of Singapore presents The Son of the Sheik (Sat 31 Mar, 8 pm)

The Son of the Sheik
by George Fitzmaurice
1926 / Germany / 72 min / Silent with music score by Jack Ward
A Programme of the National Museum Cinémathèque

Sat 31 Mar 2007
8pm
Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore
Tickets: $8

The legendary Rudolph Valentino, one of the most iconic stars of silent cinema, stars in this visually intoxicating sequel to his career-defining The Sheik, portraying a hot-blooded young man who is lured into a thieves’ trap by a beautiful dancer, played by Vilma Banky.

An epitome of the grandeur and romance of early Hollywood silent cinema, The Son of the Sheik's sultry beauty and torrid power are derived from the exotic romance which saturates every frame. More than anything that would follow in the fast-approaching sound era, this desert romance relied thoroughly on sex appeal. Valentino's own, of course, bordered on mythical proportions, but Vilma Banky was awarded just as many loving close-ups and she photographed luminously. The culmination of all this cinematic lust remains Valentino, on his indigo horse, kidnapping dancing girl Banky, whom he mistakenly accuses of having betrayed him. "I may not be your first victim," he hisses to a prostrate Vilma in the film's most memorable line, "but, by Allah, I shall be the one you remember!"

Widely hailed as the best film of Valentino's career, The Son of the Sheik is also his last work. Eight days after the premiere of the film, Valentino collapsed and died at the age of 31. His death sparked off a public hysteria and his funeral attracted an unprecedented crowd of more than 80,000 people on the streets of New York City.

The Son of the Sheik is part of the Arabian Dreams film programme of Under the Crescent Moon festival. The other film of Arabian Dreams programme, The Adventures of Prince Achmed featuring live music by The Analog Girl, screens on Sat 24 Mar 2007.

Ticketing

Counter Sales
Stamford Visitor Services Counter, 10am - 8pm
Canning Visitor Services Counter, 10am - 5pm

Concession rates at 20% discount are available. For more information and online booking, please visit:
http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/crescent_moon

Ticketing enquiries, call (65) 6332 3659 / (65) 6332 0111

InnoForm announces slate of 4 films

InnoForm Media is proud to announce its slate of 4 films for 2007. This includes the recently released Just Follow Law, and upcoming releases Men In White, Pleasure Factory and Rule Number One.

InnoForm Media, based in Singapore with offices in Malaysia and Hong Kong, started movie production only late last year. For its first film, the company worked with director Jack Neo's J Team Productions for US$800,000 budgeted Just Follow Law.

Just Follow Law was released in Singapore during the Chinese New Year and with more than S$2.65 million box office to date, it is the highest grossing movie in Singapore for the year 2007. Just Follow Law will next open in Malaysia this week through Golden Screen Cinemas and in Hong Kong on 10 May through Golden Harvest. Deals for the movie has been closed for Thailand and Indonesia.

Principal photography has been completed for Men In White. The co-production with director Kelvin Tong's Boku Films, is slated for theatrical release in Singapore through Shaw Organisation on 7 June. The horror-comedy, now in post-production, is budgeted at US$500,000 and has already been pre-sold to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand.

InnoForm Media has also appointed Hong Kong's Fortune Star as its international sales agent for both Just Follow Law and Men In White. The collaboration strengthens the already close ties between the two companies.

InnoForm Media is working with Fortune Star, Media Development Authority of Singapore and Boku Films on Kelvin Tong's next movie Rule Number One. The horrror thriller, is budgeted at US$1 million and will begin principal photography in June.

The fourth film on InnoForm Media's slate is the erotic drama Pleasure Factory, directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham. The film, now in post-production, is a co-production with Ekachai's Spicy Apple Productions. The film, based on Singapore's night life at its red-light district, is aiming for festivals and will be released in cinemas after the second quarter of the year.

InnoForm Media is now in talks to co-produce another 2 films, and hopes that newly added portfolio of movie production will complement and enhance its core business of video distribution.

Colour Of Hope Events Photos

Silent Women in Ozu, Naruse and Mizoguchi (21 March, 7.30 pm at University Cultural Centre)

Asian Film Archive invites you to the screening of three silent Japanese films on 21st March ’07 by Yasujiro Ozu, Mikio Naruse and Kenji Mizoguchi, some of the greatest filmmakers in Japanese Cinema. Three rare surviving silent films are specially flown in for this programme, which will be played with live accompaniment of Indonesian Gamelan and other Southeast Asian instruments. All three films were made within the span of two years from 1933 to 1935, and share a similar strand in their stories about the sacrifice the female protagonists made to support the education of their son, brother and lover.



Films screened are:

Woman of Tokyo (1933) by Yasujiro Ozu,
Nightly Dreams (1933) by Mikio Naruse and
Osen of the Paper Cranes (1935) by Kenji Mizoguchi.
For more details on the films, please visit http://www.asianfilmarchive.org/Silent_Women.htm.



Date: 21 March 2007
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: University Cultural Centre Hall, NUS
Ticket: $25
(To get your tickets, please visit http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?content=691.)



Some highlights:

* In Woman of Tokyo by Ozu, a famous sequence in the film: Ryoichi and Harue going to the movies when Harue receives the horrible telephone call. This received a treatment in Noel Burch's To the Distant Observer, and a strong rebuttal in David Bordwell's Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema. The film also draws parallel with Ernst Lubitsch’s If I Had a Million (1932). In a film-within-film set up, Ozu quoted fragments of the Lubitsch film in Woman of Tokyo.
* Don’t miss Mikio Naruse’s Nightly Dreams too. Naruse is the favourite director of Akira Kurosawa, and has been championed by film critics such as Susan Sontag.
* Kenji Mizoguchi is regarded by many as the unsurpassed Japanese filmmaker of all time. Yet his films are not readily accessible through festivals, much less on DVD. Do not miss this screening of one of his rare masterpieces.

“In the Japanese woman, Japanese directors have discovered the perfect protagonist.” – Donald Richie, noted author and film critic.



Yasujiro Ozu, Mikio Naruse and Kenji Mizoguchi are known as some of the greatest filmmakers in Japanese Cinema; some regard them as the greatest filmmakers ever lived. Yet, most of their early films are now irretrievably lost. Around 7000 films were produced in Japan in the 1920s alone. Today, the National Film Center (Tokyo) lists only around 70 titles before 1930 in their collection.

Three surviving silent films are curated for this programme. All were made within the span of two years from 1933 to 1935, and share a similar strand in their stories about the sacrifice the female protagonists made to support the education of their son, brother and lover. In Woman of Tokyo (1933) by Yasujiro Ozu, Chikako works in a bar to pay for her brother, Ryoichi's tuition fees. In Nightly Dreams (1933) by Mikio Naruse, Omitsu supports herself and her son by working as a bar hostess. In Kenji Mizoguchi’s Osen of the Paper Cranes (1935), Osen turns to prostitution to raise money to pay for the tuition fees of Sokichi, her younger lover, a medical student.

Lending voice to the silent women is live accompaniment of Gamelan music, played traditionally in Wayang Kulit or shadow puppet theatre prevalent in Southeast Asia in the past and designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. For the first time, these silent films will be given a new lease of life with an original score inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures and improvisation on Asian bronze, bamboo and string instruments.

Collaboration with SPI & Temasek Hall - A Ghostly Special Screening (

In conjunction with release of THE HAUNTED SCHOOL on 15th Mar 2007, Shaw Organisation is pleased to present "THE HAUNTED SCHOOL" A Special Screening @ Temasek Hall with the support of SPI (Singapore Paranormal Investigators, Singapore's premier club in paranormal researches & explorations) and the Temasek Hall of NUS on 13th March 2007.

Produced by Andrew Lau and featuring an attractive, young and vibrant cast, THE HAUNTED SCHOOL tells the tale of a group of students being haunted by vengeful spirits.

To coincide with the ghostly theme, a Special Screening at NUS Temasek Hall is organized for members from SPI and residents of Temasek Hall at NUS. Chills will be creeping down the audiences spines that night with the Special Screening being held against a familiar backdrop: THE SCHOOL, where numerous urban legends sprouted and being the place where many first shared spooky tales, possible supernatural incidents

For more info on THE HAUNTED SCHOOL, please click on www.hauntedschoolmovie.com

For more info on SPI (Singapore Paranormal Investigators), please click on www.spi.com.sg

For more info on Temasek Hall of NUS, please click on http://www.temasek.nus.edu.sg/

JUST FOLLOW LAW –The Highest Grossing Movie in Singapore this year!

J Team Productions, InnoForm Media and Golden Village Pictures are proud to announce that Jack Neo’s Just Follow Law has now grossed more than S$2.5 million at the Singapore box office. As of March 12, the movie garned a total of S$2.514 million. This makes the film the highest grossing movie in Singapore this year, beating the previous leader Ghost Rider after the last weekend.

The movie, starring MediaCorp artistes Fann Wong and Gurmit Singh, opened in theatres on February 15, and is also the highest grossing Asian movie in Singapore over the past 12 months. Just Follow Law has performed better than recent Asian hits such as Curse Of The Golden Flowers, Rob B Hood, Protégé and Death Note. The last Asian movies to do better than Just Follow Law in Singapore is Jack Neo’s own I Not Stupid 2 and Jet Li’s Fearless, both opened during last year’s Chinese New Year period.

THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES SPOTTED!

TMNT power spotted at the Zoo and various shopping malls!

300 breaks record as highest opening weekend box office for a M18 film

The Warner Bros epic, 300, grossed the industry’s highest opening weekend box office ever for a M18 film. With a box office of $988, 671.50 (113, 456 admissions), it outperformed the previous record holder The Passion of the Christ ($982, 330) in 2004.

This visually stunning film also performed spectacularly in the United States where it earned a whopping US$70million in its opening weekend.

Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is directed by Zack Synder (Dawn of the Dead).

300 opened in cinemas here on the 8th march with 29 prints and has been rated M18 for Battle Violence.

It's review here on moviexclusive.com

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Meet The Turtles This Weekend!

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES will hit the big screens next Friday 23rd March worldwide!

In conjunction with the school holidays, the TURTLES are in town to promote their CGI movie! They will make special appearances this weekend in the major malls around Singapore. Below are details on their star tour:


8am Fri 9 Mar Elias Park Pri School Meet and Greet 20 min show (7.30am)

11am Sat 10 Mar Singapore Zoo Walkabout 30min
Sun 11 Mar Singapore Zoo Walkabout 30min

2pm Sat 10 Mar VivoCity Walkabout 30min
Sun 11 Mar Marina Square Meet and Greet 20 min show

4pm Sat 10 Mar Marina Square Meet and Greet 20 min show
Sun 11 Mar Junction 8 Walkabout 20 min show


5pm Fri 9 Mar Plaza Singapura Walkabout 30 mins (5.30 - 6pm)


6pm Sat 10 Mar IMM 30 min show
Sun 11 Mar Junction 8 Walkabout 30 min show

7pm Fri 9 Mar Orchard Road Walkabout 20 mins (7- 7.20pm)

8pm Sat 10 Mar Tampines Mall 30 mins

THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGHT TIME wins top award at Japan Academy

THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGHT TIME was awarded Animation of the Year at the 30th Japan Academy Award. Director Mamoru Hosoda's animation is a time-travel piece about a 17 year old high school girl who gains power to transcend space.

The animation beat big budget favourites BRAVE STORY (Koichi Chigira) and TALES FROM EARTHSEA (Goro Miyazaki) to win the honours. For Hosoda, winning the inaugural animination prize is a sweet victory. Earlier on, Studio Ghibli fired him on HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE and director Hayao Miyazaki came on board.


THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGHT TIME is distributed in Singapore by Cathay-Keris Films. The movie is slate for release this May.

Meet Colour of Hope’s Casts this weekend!

InnoForm Media is proud to announce the release of Colour of Hope VCD. The latest work by Jack Neo’s J Team Productions, Colour of Hope stars Shawn Lee and Eric Huang (stars of l Not Stupid) have shed their once cute and adorable image and evolved into fine looking young men. They have honed their acting skills and are ready to impress the audience with their first idol tele-movie, Colour of Hope.

In conjunction with the video release, the 4 main casts (Shawn Lee, Eric Huang, Cheryl Chan, and Chen Chu Xuan) will be meeting their fans at the following events:

Date: 10 March 2007
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: IMM Level 2 Stage
Details: The cast will be autographing on the VCD/ Poster.

Date: 11 March 2007
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Pop @ Central Bras Basah Complex Level 4
Details: The cast will be autographing on the VCD/ Poster.

Dress Up in the 80s Fashion for a Retro Date at GV Marina

Patrons can enjoy a specially-packaged dinner accompanied by a live band performance, screening of “Music and Lyrics” and win exclusive movie collectibles*.

What
In conjunction with the nostalgic spirit of Music and Lyrics, Golden Village invites patrons to relive the 80s with a ‘Music and Lyrics Retro Date’ package.

The date starts with a Billy Bombers™ Sunshine Set accompanied by a live band performance and followed by a screening of Music and Lyrics at GV Marina.

The first 50 patrons who dress up in their favorite 80s outfit will get a set of collectible button badge worth $15 and a movie poster*.

Music and Lyrics is rated PG and is 104 minutes long.

When
17 March 2007, Saturday

- 8pm – Dinner

- 9pm – Movie


How
- Tickets for the 80s Perfect Date Movie Package are available on sale at GV website www.gv.com.sg and Box Office now.

- For details, please log on to www.gv.com.sg


Where
GV Marina


Partner
Billy Bombers™

R&B Sensation Deemi Reveals "Soundtrack of My Life"

Family Ties/Dangerous LLC/Atlantic recording artist Deemi is set for the world premiere of her eagerly anticipated debut video, "Soundtrack of My Life," based on a true story. The companion clip - directed by Syndrome (Pretty Ricky, Lupe Fiasco, Mike Jones) - to the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter's rising R&B smash will be unveiled today, March 2nd on the "World's Most Dangerous Site," AllHipHop.com and can be viewed at http://www.AllHipHop.com.

"Soundtrack of My Life" will impact at Urban radio outlets nationwide in April, having already taken New York City by storm with raved-about rotation on the city's influential Hot 97. Deemi's much anticipated debut album, also dubbed "SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE," is slated to drop into stores coast to coast on June 5th.

"Deemi has taken her truly remarkable real life experience and turned it into a riveting personal soundtrack with universal appeal," said Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman. "Since signing her to Atlantic, we have watched her channel her personal stories of deep struggle and ultimate survival into the creation of a moving album of extraordinary power, spirit, and emotion. This is a landmark premiere that we believe will establish Deemi as one of the most important new and compelling voices in modern music."

Tahu "Deemi" Aponte has drawn praise for her powerful vocals and equally potent confessional songwriting, creating modern soul music that is as vividly descriptive as it is emotionally charged. "SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE" sees Deemi collaborating with acclaimed producers Midi Mafia (50 Cent's "21 Questions") and Chris Styles of Dangerous LLC (Christina Aguilera, G-Unit) to create a graphic and unforgettable chronicle of her hard-fought life and struggles on the mean streets of Bed-Stuy.

Along with the breakthrough title track, the album includes such highlights as "Little Girl" (featuring fellow New Yorker, Remy Ma), the radio-friendly "On The Radio," and the poignant "Sunshine," which sees Deemi offering her thoughts and perspective on last year's tragic death of Nixmary Brown.

"She was a little girl who was killed by her stepfather," explains Deemi. "Her death created a big uproar about New York's ACS (Administration for Children's Services). She lived right around the corner from me, and because I have kids of my own, I took it pretty hard. Nixmary Brown was waiting for the sun to shine, like so many of us are, and this song is my tribute to her."

"Soundtrack of My Life" has proven a true word-of-mouth hit, breaking out from such mixtapes as "DJ SCOPE & DJ BIZ'S R&B OVERDRIVE" and "DJ FINESSE & DJ ENVY'S RNB HEAT WAVE 2K6," to acclaim from a number of national publications including Giant, Fader, and King. "Deemi recalls a young Mary J. Blige," declared Vibe, going on to celebrate "her intimate lyrics and hard-hitting vocals." XXL Presents Hip Hop Soul hailed "SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE" for its "requisite Brooklyn swagger" and "rich and substantial tales that transcends broken hearts and lovesickness." The New York Post named Deemi as one of its "New Faces For '07," praising her as "an old fashioned R&B singer...Deemi has sculpted her hard-knock experiences into a compelling album."

Deemi is also a rising star online, with her own Deemi.com and myspace.com/deemi. Along with streaming preview tracks from "SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE," the MySpace page features "What's Your Struggle?," a weekly advice column in which the singer offers assistance and support to those fans going through their own difficulties and problems.

For additional information on Deemi, please visit www.deemi.com and www.myspace.com/deemi.

ANNA & ANNA WRAPS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN SINGAPORE WITH THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCEMENT

Ascension Pictures LLC, pip Productions and Golden Village Pictures are proud to announce that Karena Lam’s new movie, ANNA & ANNA《安娜与安娜》is scheduled for release in Singapore cinemas from August 2007.

Principal photography of ANNA & ANNA started in Shanghai, China, in February 2007 before moving here to shoot in Singapore. The film, a USD $2 million production, wrapped principal photography here in Singapore on March 5, 2006.

ANNA & ANNA stars top China actor Lu Yi 陆毅 (SEVEN SWORDS《七剑》, JASMINE WOMAN 《茉莉花开》and A TIME TO LOVE《情人结》), award winning Hong Kong actress Karena Lam 林嘉欣 (JULY RHAPSODY 《男人四十》, INNER SENSES　《异度空间》, 　SILK《诡丝》, TIRAMISU《恋爱行星》) and popular Taiwanese model-actor Tender Huang Teng Hao 黄腾浩 (THE HEIRLOOM 《宅变》, TV series THE HOSPITAL《白色巨塔》).

Directed by Aubrey Lam 林爱华 (12 NIGHTS《12夜》, HIDDEN TRACK《寻找周杰伦》), ANNA & ANNA centers around Karena Lam’s character Anna who has to make choices in her life on whether to live in Shanghai with her ex-beau, Ouyang (Lu Yi) or to continue her relationship with her Singaporean musician boyfriend Billy (Tender).

“With ANNA & ANNA, I felt I could relate to Karena’s character Anna who has to choose between leaving the man she loves and hates at the same time. Just like the characters in the movie, we all have reasons for our choices. We all hope that we have a choice, or wish we have a choice,” says director Aubrey Lam.

“The film reminds us of how life always forces us to make choices and how each decision we make in our life will live with us for the rest of our lives. I was drawn to the story of Anna and her choices she had to make in the film,” says Karena Lam. “I found this role very challenging having to portray the different emotions of Anna and her doppelganger but I have confidence in the director’s vision to tell the story in the best way possible.”

“Making this film has been an enriching experience so far because it was a chance to work with professionals in the region all at once, Aubrey and Karena from Hong Kong, Lu Yi from China and Tender from Taiwan, “ says Ng Sian Ngoh 黄仙娥 producer, pip Productions.

“As Singapore’s cinema market leader and a strong supporter of Asian film products, we are proud to be distributing Anna & Anna which showcases talents from 4 Mandarin speaking countries: China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. The combined strength of having the largest cinema circuit plus the most energetic and experienced distribution team in the country will maximize the film’s performance.” says Kenneth Tan 陈继贤, Managing Director, Golden Village Pictures.

Anna & Anna is the story of Anna (Karena Lam) who seems to have everything in life, from love to career, until her boss decides to post her to China. There, Anna meets her ex-boyfriend, Ouyang (Lu Yi) and his wife, Si-Yu (Karena Lam) who looks exactly like her and later turns out to be her doppelganger. Love for her ex-beau rekindles and Anna decides to switch identities with Si-Yu for a week. Si-Yu then flies to Singapore where she falls in love with Billy (Tender), Anna’s current boyfriend. Realising that Ouyang is no longer the man she used to love, Anna desperately wants her old life back, but her doppelganger has plans of her own too.

The film is presented by Ascension Pictures and is Singapore-based pip Productions’ first co-production with China. ANNA & ANNA is distributed in Singapore by Golden Village Pictures.

Come, Have a Chat with Jack!

Speak Your Mind with Jack Neo! – JUST FOLLOW LAW

梁智强要你敢敢问，敢敢说! –《我在政府部门的日子》

Date: 07 March 2007
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Bugis Square, Bugis Junction

Singapore, 05 March 2007 – Jack Neo’s 10th local movie, JUST FOLLOW LAW, has opened with an excellent result, garnering more than $2.2 million as of March 4th. There has been much buzz and feedback generated about the movie, both positive and negative. The movie was even highlighted in Parliament last week. In line with his call to Singaporeans to open up and think outside of the box, director Jack Neo welcomes the public to come forward and get into a discussion with him on his latest controversial movie.

Titled, Speak Your Mind with Jack Neo! 梁智强要你敢敢问，敢敢说!, the dialogue is open for everyone to share their concerns and experiences they face at their workplace.

Says Director Neo, “I’m very encouraged by the feedback and responses garnered since February 15th, when JUST FOLLOW LAW hits the screens. This confirms that the movie clearly portrays the nitty-gritty issues found in Singapore’s working culture, which everyone can easily relate to. ”

EPIC ADVENTURE 300 TO PREMIERE

Warner Bros. Singapore is pleased to partner with the recently revamped Shaw Online for the launch of its upcoming release 300.

Tonight, 300 will hold its Singapore Gala Premiere with the support Shaw Online as its Official Website Partner. It will screen in Singapore’s largest digital hall Lido 1, as well as Lido Halls 2 and 3.

Shaw Online is promoting 300 with an integrated media campaign consisting of print, outdoor and online. Its revamped website now hosts a 300 homepage banner and a micro-site that showcases the film’s storyline, publicity pictures, 300 official website and trailer hyperlinks, plus screensaver downloads.

Movie-goers also stand a chance to win goodie bags when they book their 300 movie tickets via Shaw Online at its new URL www.shaw.sg. These goodie bags consist of exclusive 300 premiums such as limited edition A1-size posters, tee-shirts, ceramic plates, leather bags, paper weights and metal bracelets.

300 is a ferocious re-telling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army of over one million. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.

The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on 15 February 2007 to a standing ovation at the sold-out Berlinale Palast. Inspired by the work of best-selling graphic novelist Frank Miller, 300 is helmed by director Zack Snyder and stars Gerard Butler (as King Leonidas), Lena Headey (as Queen Gorgo) and Rodrigo Santoro (as Xerxes).

300 opens in cinemas islandwide from 8 March 2007.

TVB Star Tour 2007, Singapore (9-11 March 2007)

Scorpio East Entertainment & TVBI are pleased to announce that 4 popular TVB artistes – Roger Kwok (郭晋安), Tavia Yeung (杨怡), Steven Ma (马浚伟) and Shirley Yeung (杨思琦) will be in Singapore for a Star Tour from 9-11 March 2007!

It has been another successful year for Scorpio East Entertainment & TVBI in providing the Singaporean audience with top-rated TVB programmes on video format directly from Hong Kong and ahead of all other entertainment modes. There has been many great TV series from TVB in the past year, and many more exciting ones have been lined up in the coming months.

Besides greeting members of the media and updating them on their recent happenings during the press conference, the artistes would like to thank their many fans in Singapore for their support for TVB programmes.

During this Star Tour, the artistes will be making two public mall appearances at the Capitaland Malls on 10 March 2007 (Sat), to greet their fans and supporters, and to interact with fun and games!

4.00pm - IMM (Level 2, Stage)
6:30pm - Tampines Mall (Open Plaza, Level 4)

On 11 March 2007 (Sun), there will also be an exclusive Meet-the-fans session at No Signboard Seafood Restaurant at VivoCity. To win tickets to this exclusive session, fans should look out for various contests on radio, magazines and newspapers held in conjunction with this Star Tour!