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Nick Snow’s supernatural crime thriller, The Blacklight gets limited theatrical release from Porter + Craig Film & Media Distribution. The film stars Victor Verhaeghe leading a cast of young up-and-comers (and a few veteran character and stage actors) like Grant Lancaster, Bristol Pomeroy, Brooks Russell, Samantha Aneson, Richard Templeton, Corey …

The post Supernatural Thriller The Blacklight gets Limited Theatrical Release appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Liam Neeson is one of the very best action movie stars of today, but his time in the genre might be coming to a close. Of course, Neeson is very well known for starring in the hit 2008 movie Taken, which stars the actor as a retired CIA operative who utilizes his "very particular set of skills" to save his abducted daughter. He'd reprise that role in multiple sequels and has since appeared as the hero in a variety of other action thrillers, including Non-Stop, Run All Night, and Cold Pursuit.

Reflecting on his work in action movies over the past several years, Liam Neeson seemed to suggest that he might be retiring from the genre as soon as later this year. That's certainly a bummer for fans who love to see Neeson in these kinds of movies, but the good news is he has at least a few more in him.

Qatari institution continues support for filmmakers in the Arab world.

Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s upcoming TV drama Mornings In Jenin is among 39 projects to have secured Doha Film Institute (Dfi) funding as part of its autumn 2020 grants round.

The drama, which is in development, marks Jacir’s first foray into TV drama after numerous shorts and three features, Wajib, When I Saw You and Salt Of The Sea.

Based on the eponymous, best-selling novel by Palestinian-American writer and journalist Susan Abulhawa, it is an intergenerational tale, spanning five countries and the intertwining lives of three siblings.

In keeping with the Dfi’s mission,...

Qatari institution continues support for filmmakers in the Arab world.

Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s upcoming TV drama Mornings In Jenin is among 39 projects to have secured Doha Film Institute (Dfi) funding as part of its autumn 2020 grants round.

The drama, which is in development, marks Jacir’s first foray into TV drama after numerous shorts and three features, Wajib, When I Saw You and Salt Of The Sea.

Based on the eponymous, best-selling novel by Palestinian-American writer and journalist Susan Abulhawa, it is an intergenerational tale, spanning five countries and the intertwining lives of three siblings.

In keeping with the Dfi’s mission,...

Ausfilm executive vice-president of international production Erin Stam will join the board of directors of the Association of Film Commissioners International (Afci), serving a two-year term.

Stam is one of five new board directors for the association, which represents film commissions from around the world.

Other new members come from Columbia, Ireland, Kenya and the UK, helping to create what will be the most geographically and culturally diverse board in Afci’s 45 year history.

Continuing members represent film offices is Austria, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States. Afci aims to provide advocacy, connectivity and education to help its members foster economic growth.

Stam joined Ausfilm last year, and leads the organisation’s Los Angeles office. Her remit is to attract international productions to Australia, marketing the country’s financial incentives, production infrastructure, businesses, locations and talent. Prior to, Stam held roles at Film Victoria and Screenwest, and served...

Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives, based on the Thai caves rescue, is the latest in a string of international projects coming to Australia, due to shoot in the Gold Coast from March.

The Federal Government has splashed $13 million to lure the Imagine Entertainment/MGM project via the Location Incentive Program, with the expectation it will inject $90 million into the economy and create 435 jobs for cast and crew, as well as 3,400 extras. The Queensland government has also provided support via its production attraction program.

Penned by the Oscar-nominated writer William Nicholson (Gladiator), Thirteen Lives will depict the true story of the 2018 Tham Laung cave rescue of a boys’ soccer team, trapped in a cave by heavy rain and flooding.

After the team was stuck for days with no supplies and falling oxygen levels, a group from all over the world came together to to save the boys, including expert divers from Australia and the UK.

Despite the pandemic, there was still almost $1 billion spent on drama production in Australia in the last financial year, indicating the sector had been on track for a potential recordbreaker before it was interrupted.

That’s according Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report, released today, which details expenditure on all local and foreign drama production in 2019-20, across film, TV, and online, as well in post-production, digital and visual effects (Pdv).

The topline figure of $991 million in total drama expenditure is just 18 per cent down on 2018-19. Notably, that number does include projects that began principal photography but entered into hiatus mid-March.

Not included are the 26 drama titles meant to shoot in 2019-20 that were delayed or postponed due to the pandemic, with budgets that exceeded $325 million.

Indeed, if those those had gone ahead, total expenditure would likely have neared or surpassed 2016-17’s record $1.3 billion.

The impact of Covid...

The Victorian government announced a $33.8 million screen industry package today, including an incentive fund to attract footloose production, additional funding for local projects, and the establishment of a new technical hub near Docklands Studios Melbourne.

A vast majority of the funding will be spent in this financial year, with Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher telling If it is designed to be a ‘stop gap’ post-covid to stimulate the industry, ahead of the implementation of the five-year Victorian Government Screen Industry Strategy in 2021-22.

At $19.2 million, the Victorian Screen Incentive will be targeted at attracting interstate and international physical production over the next two years, and visual effects, animation, post-production and digital games within this financial year. It will be overseen by the Film Victoria Economic Development Committee.

The fund has already helped to attract Liam Neeson-starrer Blacklight, which started shooting in Melbourne last week. Directed by Ozark creator Mark Williams,...

With Australia quickly earning a reputation internationally as a safe shooting destination, the Nsw government has struck out with competitive bid to attract foreign production, pumping an additional $175 million towards the Made In Nsw fund.

This will see the government commit an extra $35 million per year over the next five years, on top of the $40 million already earmarked for 2020-21 through to 2022-23.

While the cash injection appears aimed at getting Hollywood’s attention, there is also welcome news for local producers in that it comes with some loosening of the fund’s criteria.

Managed by Screen Nsw, Made in Nsw previously only supported international footloose production and Australian high-end TV drama. However, it will now also support new local features.

In announcing the measure, to be outlined in next week’s state budget, Treasurer Dominic said: “Our strong and continued investment means we are in a position to attract...