Author: SD

Production spend in the UK in the first quarter of 2025 was nearly three times the spend of the equivalent period in 2024, according to figures published today (May 1) by the BFI. The number of films starting principal photography during the first quarter of 2025 was 37, 15 more than was first reported for the first quarter of 2024, with a production spend of £632m.  This is the third highest first quarter since records began in 2003, and nearly three times the £211m that was reported for Q1 2024 productions. There were 15 inward investment films in production in…

Worldwide box office: April 25-27 Rank Film (distributor)  3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1  A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros)  $60.5m  $816.6m  $37.8m  $436.6m 79 2   Sinners (Warner Bros)  $59.6m  $161.6m  $13.5m  $39.1m 72  3   Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (Disney)  $42.2m  $42.2m  $17m  $17m 35  4   The Accountant 2 (Warner Bros)  $38.2m  $38.2m  $13.7m  $13.7m 72  5   Until Dawn (Sony)  $18.1m  $18.1m  $10.1m  $10.1m 61  6   Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback (Toho)  $12.9m  $47.4m  $12.9m  $47.4m 1  7   The Amateur (Disney)  $8.7m  $80.6m  $4.9m  $46.7m  53  8   Thudarum (various) …

EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has hired Pulsar Content co-founder Marie Garrett as SVP sales and acquisitions to handle multi-territory sales with a particular focus on co-productions. The Paris-based executive will report to XYZ partners Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian. Garrett is no longer with Pulsar Content, which she co-founded with Gilles Sousa, serving as managing director since 2019. “We’ve been working with Marie on successful projects for several years, including Blumhouse’s Deep House, and have been continually impressed with her taste and her relationships with both buyers and filmmakers alike. We’re thrilled to have her join the XYZ team,” said XYZ…

In devastating news on the eve of Cannes, Bleecker Street founder and CEO and independent community stalwart Andrew Karpen has died of brain cancer. He was 59. Karpen was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2024 and died in hospital in Connecticut on Monday. Longtime friend and Bleecker Street president Kent Sanderson said, “Our industry has lost a giant. Andrew taught us all so much, foremost of which is the value of kindness, honesty, and family above all else. His leadership and courage will inspire all of us at Bleecker Street for the rest of our lives.” The popular East Coast native founded Bleecker Street in…

Barcelona-Sant Jordi International Film Festival (BCN Film Fest) in Spain has cancelled its screenings for the rest of today (Monday, April 28) following mass power outages that have caused difficulties across Spain and Portugal. The festival posted a message on its social media channels at around 16.45 CEST stating (translated from Catalan): “This afternoon’s Festival sessions have been cancelled. “As soon as the electricity returns, we will resume the sessions. We apologise for the inconvenience.” BCN Film Fest runs from April 24-May 2, at venues in and around Barcelona. It has been held annually since 2017. The festival is scheduled…

Sinners held off the re-release of Revenge Of The Sith to stay atop North American box office as an estimated $45m haul in the second weekend boosted the running total to $122.5m and ensure a Warner Bros film ruled the charts for the fourth consecutive weekend. A strong late-April session elevated box office and earned $146.5m, pushing the year to date to $2.28bn and approximately 11% ahead of 2024 by the same stage. Playing in 3,347 locations, Ryan Coogler’s period vampire tale starring Michael B. Jordan dropped an impressive 6% from last weekend. That was the lowest second-weekend drop for an R-rated…

 Rank Film (origin) Distributor Apr 11-13 grossTotal  Week 1   A Minecraft Movie  (US)  Warner Bros  £7.2m  £31m  2 2  The Amateur  (US)   Disney  £1.1m  £1.1m  1 3   Six: The Musical  (US)  Universal  £915,149  £3.9m  2 4   Andre Rieu’s 75th Birthday Celebration: The Dream Continues  (Neth)  Piece Of Magic  £595,168  £595,168  1 5   Snow White  (US)  Disney  £411,079  £9.1m  4 GBP to USD conversion rate: 1.32 A Minecraft Movie has built a sturdy £31m total at the UK-Ireland box office, after adding £7.2m on its second weekend for Warner Bros.…

The China Film Consumption Year has been launched in Beijing in a bid to boost box office revenue and stimulate local economy through cross-promotion across various industry sectors. The year-long initiative will put aside no less than $137m (RMB1bn) for cinema-going deals and subsidies led by the China Film Administration alongside financial institutions the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China UnionPay, and film ticketing platforms Maoyan and Taopiaopiao, From April 18 till the end of the Chinese New Year period in 2026, various benefits such as discount vouchers, cash vouchers and lucky draws will be put…

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan opened top of the charts in North America on a confirmed $48m over Easter weekend, $2.4m higher than initial estimates from Warner Bros. The period vampire tale about two brothers who escape their past and return to their Mississippi hometown knocked stablemate A Minecraft Movie off its number one perch, arriving in 3,308 sites on the back of excellent reviews including an unprecedented “A” CinemaScore for a horror film. It reportedly cost $90m to make, excluding marketing. This was the biggest debut by an original film since Jordan Peele’s Us opened on $71.1m…

France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14) will preview upcoming animations including Zootopia 2, Animal Farm and the Stranger Things animated series as part of its 2025 lineup. The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, director Michel Gondry and acclaimed UK animator Joanna Quinn will receive honorary Cristal awards. Gondry will present his Berlinale 2025 title Maya, Give Me a Title as a special screening.  Scroll down for the full list of competition films, screening events and studio showcases  Also attending are Andy Serkis for what the festival described as a ‘special premiere’ of his animated feature adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal…