The world premiere of Facing the Storm: the Story of the American Bison will be held at the Kansas International Film Festival on October 2. The film is an ITVS/Montana PBS co-production. Facing the Storm is the account of our tempestuous relationship with the iconic symbol of wild America. It explores the visionary quest to protect and restore bison and details the inextricable relationship of the Plains Indians with the animal.
The Independent Film & Television Alliance has announced its new executive committee and board of directors. The elections were held as part of the IFTA’s annual members meeting. The seven-member executive committee is headed by IFTA chairman Lloyd Kaufman (Troma Entertainment) who was re-elected last September and is serving the second year in his term.
A year or so after apparently abandoning its efforts in the digital cinema market Eastman Kodak Company has developed laser projection technology that the company says delivers both 2D and bright 3D images within today's stringent technical standards for digital motion picture presentation. Kodak is currently demonstrating a prototype projector. So far reaction has been tremendous says Les Moore Kodak's chief operating officer for digital cinema.
Laser Light Engines has closed in $13 million in financing from returning investors Braemar Energy Ventures and Harris & Harris Group and from current strategic partner Imax. LLE will use the funds to accelerate expansion of its product development engineering and marketing organizations. The company will also develop a custom version of its laser engine for use in Imax digital projection systems.
MPC has purchased three FilmLight Truelight 3D systems: two systems have already been installed in its Wardour Street headquarters (London) for use on a current stereo 3D project. “We needed a 2K stereo player with a comprehensive toolset that integrated into our Linux stereo pipeline ” says David Spilsbury head of engineering at MPC. “We worked with FilmLight’s R&D team to upgrade our existing Truelight Player and having tested the workflows we’ve now purchased a further two systems.
Responding to a surge in client demand for the highest-quality digital film grading full-service South African post-production facility The Refinery has invested in a Baselight HD color grading system from FilmLight. The system will be installed in a brand-new digital theatre complete with a 3D-enabled 2K Barco projector. The theatre will also feature FilmLight’s Truelight color management system. Charl van der Merwe managing director at The Refinery says “We had absolutely no hesitation about the decision to purchase Baselight.
The fast-growing Russian film industry looked like it had hit a bump in first half 2009 as the financial crisis bit and piracy undermined key growth areas. But full-year figures for 2009 and data for first half 2010 show the industry getting back on track. These are the findings of The Film Industry in the Russian Federation the latest report commissioned by the European Audiovisual Observatory from research company Nevafilm with contributions from RFilms and Groteck Business Media.
Sachtler has introduced a new fluid head specially designed for DSLR filmmakers. The Cine DSLR has a payload range of 2 to 11 pounds and is thus ideal for state-of-the-art digital single-lens reflex cameras with HD video function. A counterbalance in ten steps as well as three vertical and horizontal grades of drag allow for professional operation. In addition the Cine DSLR comes with a special camera plate with an anti-twist retainer for HD DSLR cameras.
SmartJog has launched a mobile application called SmartJog2Go! which is designed to give clients quick access to information on content being sent received and stored using SmartJog’s digital delivery system. SmartJog2Go! features the ability to view tracking information of incoming and outgoing files as well as files being transferred to cloud storage. Clients can also use the application to find a directory of SmartJog’s networked locations for a quick response if files need to get to a certain territory quickly. The SmartJog2Go!
XDC has sold Arqiva’s digital cinema satellite distribution system to five cinema chains operating in Austria Portugal and Malta. Each site will be fitted with Arqiva’s digital satellite receiver to receive Digital Cinema Packages (feature films trailers and advertising) as well as live events distributed via Arqiva’s IS905 platform.
