News

101 Films Intl. has secured worldwide distribution rights for World War II adventure film “War Blade,” starring Joseph Millson, Paul Marlon (“Trigger Point”), Michael McKell and Rebecca Scott. The sales company is presenting the film to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.

The film was written and directed by Nicholas Winter.

“War Blade” follows Robert Banks, an agent of the British Special Operations Executive, who is tasked with rescuing a French resistance fighter from a hidden Nazi bunker. With the help of a German nurse and a ragtag group of allies, Banks must journey to the belly of the beast.

With his commanders already suspecting the bunker holds much more than prisoners, and a group full of fragile personalities to deal with, Banks faces dangers from all fronts. Always outnumbered and outgunned, Banks and his group must use their guile to outwit the enemy and survive the deadly mission.

Doc and sports specialist’s hires include senior producer for film Ian Davies.

Noah Media Group (Nmg) has expanded its management team adding Wise Owl Films and Initialize Films execs and promoting exec producer Simon Corney.

Ian Davies has joined the 14 Peaks and Finding Jack Charlton indie as senior producer for film, from Outlander indie Initialize Films, where his credits include God Help the Girl, The English Surgeon and ’71. He also co-created Boudica, the production and finance house for female-driven films.

Stuart Ramsay joins Nmg as senior development producer, having previously worked at Lime Pictures-backed Wise Owl as development executive and series producer.

Revenge thriller stars Nick Moran, Lee Majors and Danny Trejo.

Bleiberg/Dimbort has struck deals in multiple territories including the US on Daniel Zirilli’s Renegades, starring Nick Moran, Lee Majors and Danny Trejo.

The revenge thriller has sold to Saban (North America), Spirit Media (German-speaking territories), Eagle Films (Middle East), Daro (English-speaking Africa), New Select (Japan), Lumix (South Korea), MediaSquad (Eastern Europe) and Nos Lusomundo (Portugal).

The film follows a band of former Special Forces comrades who seek to avenge the death of their Green Beret friend after he is murdered by a London drug gang that has been threatening his daughter.

Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during this year’s Cannes Marche du Film (which runs May 17-25).

Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during this year’s Cannes Marche du Film (which runs May 17-25).

Refresh the page for latest updates.

May 18 Stone Mattress

Julianne Moore and Sandra Oh have signed on to star in Lynne Ramsey’s new thriller. The project is based on a short story by Margaret Atwood and is produced by John Lesher and JoAnne Sellar. Amazon are handling domestic rights. Studiocanal and Film4 are in final negotiations to board the project.

Partnership announced on heels of Laika’s recent 15th anniversary.

Shout! Factory has struck a distribution agreement with Laika on four of the animation studio’s stop-motion titles giving it exclusive AVoD rights in the US and worldwide broadcast, digital Est and TVoD rights.

The features in question are the Oscar-nominated quartet of Kubo And The Two Strings (pictured), The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline.

The deal was negotiated by Shout! Factory EVP of kids and family Melissa Boag and head of business development Michael Waghalter on behalf of Laika.

It comes after Laika recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and announced its latest stop-motion title,...

95th Oscars ceremony set for March 12, 2023.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC have set the 95th Oscars ceremony for March 12, 2023.

According to the 2022 season timeline announced on Friday (May 13) the Academy will announce the nominations on January 24, 2023. The shortlists will come out on December 21 and the eligibility period ends on December 31 of this year.

The general entry categories submission deadline is November 15. Nominations voting runs January 12-17, 2023, and final voting runs March 2-7, 2023.

The ceremony date is edging back to its more familiar slot in early March following the pandemic disruption. This year’s ceremony took...

Shortlists out December 21, eligibility period ends December 31 of this year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC have set the 95th Oscars ceremony for March 12, 2023.

According to the 2022 season timeline announced on Friday (May 13) the Academy will announce the nominations on January 24, 2023. The shortlists will come out on December 21 and the eligibility period ends on December 31 of this year.

The general entry categories submission deadline is November 15. Nominations voting runs January 12-17, 2023, and final voting runs March 2-7, 2023.

The ceremony date is edging back to its more familiar slot in early March following the pandemic disruption. This...

Actress Emily Blunt, the star of "A Quiet Place- Part II", opening in North American theaters May 28, 2021, poses for photographer Craig McDean:

Blunt made her professional film debut in the 2003 TV film "Boudica", then portrayed 'Catherine Howard' in the miniseries "Henry VIII".

Her performance in the 2004 drama "My Summer of Love" earned her an 'Evening Standard British Film Award'. For her performance in the TV film "Gideon's Daughter" (2006), Blunt received a 'Golden Globe' award for Best Supporting Actress.

For her role in "The Devil Wears Prada", she received a 'Golden Globe' nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and a nomination for a 'BAFTA' award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

In 2009, she starred in "The Young Victoria", co-starred in the crime caper comedy "Wild Target', followed by "The Adjustment Bureau" (2011), "Looper" (2012), and "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014).

In 2016, Blunt starred in the fantasy-action film "The Huntsman: Winter's War...

Sneak Peek actress Emily Blunt ("A Quiet Place") posing for photographer Craig McDean:

Blunt made her professional film debut in the 2003 TV film "Boudica", then portrayed 'Catherine Howard' in the miniseries "Henry VIII".

Her performance in the 2004 drama "My Summer of Love" earned her an 'Evening Standard British Film Award'. For her performance in the TV film "Gideon's Daughter" (2006) she received a 'Golden Globe' award for Best Supporting Actress.

For her role in "The Devil Wears Prada", she received a 'Golden Globe' nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and a nomination for a 'BAFTA' award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

In 2009, she starred in "The Young Victoria", co-starred in the crime caper comedy "Wild Target', followed by "The Adjustment Bureau" (2011), "Looper" (2012), and "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014).

In 2016, Blunt starred in the fantasy-action film "The Huntsman: Winter's War" and "The Girl on the Train". In...

Experience an epic tale of heroism, leadership, and female empowerment when The Warrior Queen of Jhansi arrives on Digital and DVD May 19 from Lionsgate.

Experience an epic tale of heroism, leadership, and female empowerment when The Warrior Queen of Jhansi arrives on Digital and DVD May 19 from Lionsgate. This film is based on the true story of Rani of Jhansi, the Indian Queen who was a leading figure and symbol of resistance in the 1857 Indian rebellion against the British Empire. Directed by Swati Bhise (one of the producers of The Man Who Knew Infinity) and co-written by Swati, her daughter Devika Bhise (Mosaic), who also stars as “Rani Lashkmi Bai,” and Olivia Emden (Hero), The Warrior Queen of Jhansi features Nathaniel Parker, Golden Globe® nominee Rupert Everett, Ben Lamb, Jodhi May, and Primetime Emmy® winner Derek Jacobi. The Warrior Queen of Jhansi will be available on Digital for the suggested...

Actress Emily Blunt ("Edge of Tomorrow") poses for the March 2020 issue of "Marie Claire" (Us) magazine, wearing Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Dior and a whole lot more:

Blunt made her film acting debut in the TV movie "Boudica" (2003) then portrayed 'Queen Catherine Howard' in the miniseries "Henry VIII" (2003). 

She made her feature film debut in the Brit drama "My Summer of Love" (2004). Blunt's breakthrough came in 2006 when she starred in the television film "Gideon's Daughter" followed by "The Devil Wears Prada".

She then starred in the feature "The Young Victoria" (2009), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" (2011), science fiction films "The Adjustment Bureau" (2011), "Looper" (2012), and "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014) and musical films "Into the Woods" (2014) and "Mary Poppins Returns" (2018). She then played an 'FBI' agent in the crime film "Sicario" (2015), an alcoholic in the thriller "The Girl on the Train" (2016) and a troubled mother in "A Quiet Place" (2018).

Click the images...

Directed by Swati Bhise and starring Devika Bhise, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of the legendary Rani of Jhansi, a feminist icon in India and a fearless freedom fighter. In 1857 India, this 24-year old General led her people into battle against the British Empire earning the reputation as the Joan of Arc of the East. This real-life Wonder Woman’s insurrection shifted the balance of power in the region and set in motion the demise of the notorious British East India Company and the beginning of the British Raj under Queen Victoria.

The film, which opens in North America on November 15th, boasts an incredible cast including Rupert Everett, Nathaniel Parker, Ben Lamb with Jodhi May and Derek Jacobi.

To set the scene let’s take a look at the trailer!

I was able to catch Director Swati Bhise and star of the film Devika Bhise...

Emily Blunt has always known how to captivate an audience. Her early career had her appearing alongside Judi Dench in The Royal Family in London's West End in 2001, before she eventually moved to TV films like Boudica, and finally, to Hollywood blockbusters.

Related: Emily Blunt's 15 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

Soon after appearing in The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, Blunt began to score leading roles. Today, she remains one of the most beloved leading ladies in the business, with a wealth of very strong supporting roles under her belt, and many more movies on the horizon. Her popularity is all but guaranteed to keep growing.

Updated on August 30th, 2021 by Derek Draven: Emily Blunt continues to shine as an A-list star thanks to her performances in films like the recently released A Quiet Place 2. She's shown a remarkable ability to move from action to horror, drama, and comedy genres with complete ease,...

Simon Brew Jun 10, 2017

Mark Gatiss pens Doctor Who series 10 episode 9, as we head off to the red planet in Empress Of Mars...

This review contains spoilers. Our spoiler-free review is here.

10.9 Empress Of Mars

“Is this Neil Armstrong?”

Now that’s how to end a Doctor Who episode.

Following what had been a fairly enjoyable 40-odd minutes, Mark Gatiss demonstrated again his underappreciated love of adding in a classic Who reference to his stories, by having a good chunk of the audience scrambling for their Peladon DVDs. The appearance of Alpha Centauri – voiced again by Ysanne Churchman! – was just the kind of surprise that I thought the show had lost the ability to keep. A small addition, but one that both gives long-time fans an added grin, and also gives the impression that the universe ticks along whether the Doctor is visiting or not.

If Alpha Centauri is entirely new to you,...

It is Kangna Ranaut versus Devika Bhise in two rival films based on the wars and conflicts of the Jhansi Ki Rani. There is some disheartening news for Kangna Ranaut, the new Queen of Jhansi in town. Her attempts to play the ultimate Warrior Queen in a film to be directed by Telugu cinema’s ace-directorRead More

The post Breaking: Setback for Kangna Ranaut as Rani of Jhansi is being made as an international film by another producer appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Universal has acquired the pitch for a historical drama about Queen Amanirenas, titled Warrior Queen.

Mark Rosenthal (Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, Mercury Rising) will pen the feature, which will follow the young African monarch who ruled over the wealthy Kush Kingdom of Nubia and successfully led her army into battle against the invading Roman Empire, forcing them to withdraw.

Will Packer is attached to produce via his Universal-based Will Packer productions, along with the company's head of motion pictures, James Lopez. Universal’s vp of production, Sara Scott, will oversee the project for the studio.

Packer had previously worked with Rosenthal on...

Having “Game of Thrones” win another 12 Emmys is a bittersweet high for fans who are simultaneously reminded that their favorite show is coming to an end in two short seasons. This anticipatory mourning has created renewed interest in life after “Game of Thrones” — not through the power of the Red God — but by hoping that HBO will green light a spin-off.

As George R.R. Martin teased at the Emmys, he has “thousands of pages of fake history” set in the world of Westeros and the adjacent Essos, ripe for adaptation. This is not news to readers of his novels, who are often sidetracked by his long passages of fully realized historical context. And since “Game of Thrones” series creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss have tried to keep flashbacks and exposition at a minimum, there’s still a wealth of stories that haven’t been represented on the screen.

Read...

'Die Nibelungen: Siegfried': Paul Richter as the dragon-slaying hero of medieval Germanic mythology. 'Die Nibelungen': Enthralling silent classic despite complex plot and countless characters Based on the medieval epic poem Nibelungenlied, itself inspired by the early medieval Germanic saga about the Burgundian royal family, Fritz Lang's two-part Die Nibelungen is one of those movies I can enjoy many times without ever really understanding who's who and what's what. After all, the semi-historical, fantasy/adventure epic is packed with intrigue, treachery, deceit, hatred, murder, and sex. And that's just the basic plotline. As seen in Kino's definitive two-disc edition, artistically and cinematically speaking Die Nibelungen contains some of the greatest visual compositions I've ever seen. Filmed mostly in long shots that frame the imaginative sets and high ceilings, each static shot is meticulously composed with such symmetry and balance that, even though Die Nibelungen takes the viewer through a mythical fantasia,...

We all know the “Xena” reboot is happening — in as much as any reboot bandied about to take the pulse of public interest can be considered happening. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt confirmed as much last month. But since the idea is still in its infancy, no one seems to know how Lucy Lawless will fit in. Den of Geek recently spoke to Ms. Lawless about her role in the upcoming “Ash vs. Evil Dead” series, but the question of reviving the Warrior Princess soon came up. Ms. Lawless was not optimistic about her return to the iconic leather miniskirt. “No one really dies! Screw her head back on, it’s a bit wonky, and she’s got a really bad attitude since she’s been in a box for 20 years. […] I’m probably not up for that gig. I can’t imagine how you could tell the story with me...

And they’re off! We are just 48 hours into Hitifx’s Second Annual March Madness Tournament of Heroes vs. Villains, and the races are already heating up. The champions of each of the four divisions are back on the field defending their titles, and the returning gaints are mostly looking strong. Some newcomers however have come charging out of the gate looking ready to go all the way. Across the field, we’ve got some very tough battles brewing. In the Movie Heroes division, Batman is the heavy favorite against longshot private dick Philip Marlowe, and fans are turning out in force to prop up The Dark Knight. But Marlowe is a saavy player who may just be waiting for his moment. He’s had decades to build up a following: will Marlowe’s people come to the rescue? Elsewhere in the division, a couple of match-ups that looked lopsided...

When last we tuned into Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the titular organization had crumbled, its name disgraced, assets depleted. In the wake of a Hydra-fueled onslaught, Nick Fury (guest star Samuel L. Jackson) resurfaced to appoint Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) as Director, so that he might rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D..

To do that, Coulson and his bruised team of agents will need the occasional helping hand — the first of which, as Season 2 opens this Tuesday (ABC, 9/8c), belongs to genre-tv queen Lucy Lawless.

Related Fall TV Spoilerpalooza: Exclusive Scoop on 42 Returning Favorites, Including S.H.I.E.L.D.

Here,...

Born in London, Emily Blunt is as British as she is great: quite. And as a proper British person, she grew up speaking the Queen’s English. However, then she started acting and things went, as she might’ve once said, arse over tits. Her British accent grew less British and her American accent grew more American. This year, in the four movies she has starred in, her transformation officially crossed a line — her American accent is now so believable that she sounds positively barmy when she attempts to do otherwise. Let’s track the ten-year shift:Project: Warrior Queen (2003)Part: Isolda/BritishAccent: Blunt's first film role and she sounds quite British. This is magnified by the fact that the dialogue is delivered in that overly formal style that telegraphs, “This took place a long time ago when people spoke fancy.” Project: The “Death on the Nile” episode of Agatha Christie...

Chicago – It always takes a few minutes for viewers to adjust their eyes to the stiff, herky-jerky movements of characters in a direct-to-video animated film from DC Comics. “Superman vs. The Elite” opens with a cheeseball caricature of the Man of Steel headlining an outdated kiddie cartoon. It’s pretty silly, but at least the satirical characters are far more expressive than the “real” Superman once he rears his blandly noble head.

Yet as soon as I was ready to write off this seemingly disposable release, it won me over with its witty banter, topical themes and a villain who could prove to be a real showstopper if he was brought to the big screen. If Zack Snyder’s upcoming “Superman” reboot is a solid hit, then I suggest that studios consider Joe Kelly’s Action Comics yarn, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” as source material for the sequel.

Warner Home Video has released three clips from Superman Vs. the Elite, which arrives on Blu-ray and DVD June 12. George Newbern and Pauley Perrette star as Superman and Lois Lane in this DC Comics Premiere Movie, where the Man of Steel has to deal with a new breed of heroes dubbed The Elite. Check out these scenes from the upcoming animated adventure.

Superman vs The Elite - The Hat

Superman vs The Elite - Menagerie

Superman vs The Elite - Coldcast

In Superman Vs. the Elite, Superman's effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as "The Elite," appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy -- putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.

The London-born actress, currently starring in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, is poised to break through into the big time this year, say industry-watchers

Just as Emily Blunt hits UK screens this week in her biggest role to date, a string of movies coming out in the United States look set to catapult her to the Kate Winslet category of stardom.

The 29-year-old, who stars in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen with Ewan McGregor, co-stars with Bruce Willis, Jason Segel and Colin Firth in three forthcoming movies, while she is negotiating to appear opposite Tom Cruise in All You Need Is Kill, a potential sci-fi blockbuster, and to play Nora Charles in a remake of The Thin Man starring Johnny Depp, according to Variety.

Blunt will be appearing in cinemas again soon, alongside Segel in a romantic comedy, The Five-Year Engagement, about a couple who have promised to marry each...

Here’s great holiday news: our good friends over at BBC America have given us a ridiculously generous and wonderful prize pack to give away to one of our lucky readers. We want it for ourselves, but since we have to give it away, we hope you win! This prize pack includes Doctor Who Series Six, Part 1 & Series Six, Part 2, The Hour, BBC Holiday Gift Set, a Doctor Who Tardis Mini Set, Doctor Who Suit Shirt, Doctor Who Talking Pen, and a Guinness Baseball Cap. No, we’re not kidding.

Check out all the details on the prizes, and learn how to enter for your chance to win below, and good luck!

SciFiMafia.com & BBC America Holiday Prize Pack

Doctor Who: Series 6 Part 1

Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston

Directed by: Julian Simpson, Toby Haynes, Jeremy Webb, Richard Clark

Written by: Steven Moffat, Matthew Graham, Neil Gaiman...

One of the goals of the Cannonball Read is to honor AlabamaPink. Today marks the second anniversary of the loss of our Warrior Queen, and so I have chosen to re-post one of the reviews she wrote for the original Cannonball Read. Cheers, Miss Pink.--Tu.

Whenever I force The Mister to stop in the middle of reading whatever 19th Century seafaring novel he has in his hands so that I can read aloud a passage from my book, it usually means that my aforementioned book is pretty darn humorous. The more often I stop him is directly proportional to the book's overall hilarity. Now when I can't get through the passage I'm trying to read because I keep cracking up so bad the words coming out of my mouth sound something like "Ebid sheee. Iah. Ebid. Bwaw!", well you get the picture.

Apathy and Other Small Victories did inspire...

Emily Blunt regrets not going to university. The British actress, who landed her first movie role in "Boudica" aged 20, thinks by skipping higher education she missed out on the chance to learn about life and make mistakes away from the public eye.

"I just wish I'd had that experience and that time to really mess up, and to be around fellow people who had no idea that they were throwing caution to the wind," she said.

The 28-year-old screen beauty, who is married to actor John Krasinski and was previously engaged to Michael Buble, admits she has made bad decisions trying to keep up with other stars, and is grateful to have settled down with someone who makes her feel fulfilled.

"When you're attempting to grow up at an accelerated rate, in order to have some kind of acceptance among your peers, I think you're dancing as fast as you can sometimes,...

Emily Blunt has revealed that she wishes she'd had the experience of going to university. The actress, who starred in her first movie role aged 20 in Boudica, admitted that she missed her opportunity to "mess up" away from the public eye. She told The Times: "I just wish I'd had that experience and that time to really mess up, and to be around fellow people who had no idea that they were throwing caution to the wind." The 28-year-old, who is married to actor John Krasinski and previously dated Michael Bublé, said that she now feels "fulfilled" and is happy that she found (more)...

Your Weekly Source for Blu-Ray and DVD Release News

Another big week for Blu-Ray, this time loaded with fresh new films. Danny Boyle’s Oscar-contender 127 Hours debuts and is certain to have viewers cringing, but also feeling incredibly uplifted. Disney’s beloved animated classic Bambi steps out from the woods and into your home viewing library; and Steven Soderbergh’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Out Of Sight is now visible. Cher and Christina put on the glitz and get risque in the hit musical Burlesque, and if you’re a big fan, go to Best Buy for their exclusive version including Burlesque corsets. Blue Underground is giving Harry Kumel’s stylish 70′s vampire flick Daughters Of Darkness a Blu-Ray day pass, while the Pirate Of The Caribbean unite to bring force in numbers to your home-viewing experience.

Blu-Ray for Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 James Franco in Danny Boyle’s...

Jonathan Swift's satire has been much-admired over the centuries. But did you ever feel there was something missing? Was it Guitar Hero?

Even though it's one of the most widely-adapted books of all time – spawning cartoons, radio plays, French turn of the century silent films, strange Russian pro-Communist puppetry adaptations and mid-1990s Ted Danson vehicles to name but a few – you could argue that nobody has ever been able to fully capture the spirit of Jonathan Swift's sprawling 1726 masterpiece Gulliver's Travels. Either the political invective is traded for hollow spectacle, or Gulliver's rudderless descent into misanthropy is glossed over or, as is often the case, the last three quarters of the book are dismissed entirely.

But fear no more, because this Christmas Jack Black will once and for all become the definitive Lemuel Gulliver. Yes, he might be primarily known for shouting and waggling his slapstick eyebrows around,...

Steven Moffat has revealed the titles of the first few stories of Matt Smith's era as the Eleventh Doctor.

The series begins with The Eleventh Hour written by Moffat himself and is believed to follow directly on from the regeneration in The End of Time. Episode Two is The Beast Below also by Moffat with Episode Three seeing the return of the Doctor's greatest foe in Victory of the Daleks by Mark Gatiss.

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, Moffat also confirmed a number of guest stars for the new series coming to the UK in the Spring.

Arthur Darvill will join the cast of Episode One as Rory. Darvill was previously seen in Little Dorrit, playing Tip Dorrit in the 2008 series.

Sophie Okonedo stars in Episode Two. She recently seen playing Winnie Mandela in the film Mrs Mandela and has previously starred in series such as Criminal Justice, Father and Son and Clocking Off.

Is this Emily Blunt's year? I really hope so... Even though this is also the year fellow British actress Carey Mulligan (via An Education) made her magnificent acting known outside of the UK. So how was Blunt's acting as the young Victoria? Is the movie Oscar-worthy? Is her performance Oscar-worthy? Says Empire:

An elegant, entertaining, informative picture with a gallery of vivid supporting turns, this provisionally crowns the winning Blunt as a Brit-pic star - but it skimps a bit on the bodice-ripping, blood and thunder. - - -

- - - A more generous review from Digital Spy follows:

There's something about donning a Queen's crown that brings out the best in actresses. Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench have thrived as monarchs, and now it's the turn of Emily Blunt to take on an iconic British ruler. Blaming her "sly eyes" for constantly being cast as bad girls,...

Is this Emily Blunt's year? I really hope so... Even though this is also the year fellow British actress Carey Mulligan (via An Education) made her magnificent acting known outside of the UK. So how was Blunt's acting as the young Victoria? Is the movie Oscar-worthy? Is her performance Oscar-worthy? Says Empire:

An elegant, entertaining, informative picture with a gallery of vivid supporting turns, this provisionally crowns the winning Blunt as a Brit-pic star - but it skimps a bit on the bodice-ripping, blood and thunder. - - -

- - - A more generous review from Digital Spy follows:

There's something about donning a Queen's crown that brings out the best in actresses. Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench have thrived as monarchs, and now it's the turn of Emily Blunt to take on an iconic British ruler. Blaming her "sly eyes" for constantly being cast as bad girls,...

Eight aspiring minority and women filmmakers from the east and west coast have been honored with the DGA Student Film Awards, the guild announced Thursday.

The award spotlights promising new directors from film schools and universities throughout the U.S.

"We're honored to call attention to these exciting young filmmakers and to encourage diversity in the entertainment industry at the same time," said DGA president Michael Apted. "We look forward to seeing more of their work in the future."

The best African-American student filmmakers are William Sutphin of Columbia University for "Uncle Killa" and Hezekiah Lewis of UCLA for "Warrior Queen." Anthony Onah of UCLA received honorable mention for "The Cure."

The DGA's best Asian-American student fillmmakers are Wei-Hsin Yang of Columbia University for "Passing Fancy" and Ching-Yao Koh of Academy of Art for "Overnight, a Rose." Ross Ching of San Diego State University received honorable mention in that category for "The Perfect Frame.

MOSCOW -- Romania's growing reputation as one of Europe's new budget locations for co-productions and film services got a boost Tuesday when one of the country's top independent production companies opened a London office. Silver Bullet Film, founded by Romanian director Viorel Sergovici, will promote Romania as a location for film, commercial and television production. The company said it was the first time a Romanian film production house had opened an office in London and the move would make it easier for U.K. producers to take advantage of "high quality facilities, competitive prices and stunning locations" in the country. Cold Mountain and Britain's Independent Television's two-hour drama Boudica are among recent productions shot on location in Romania.