Icahn readies Lionsgate proxy fight
Film News: Billionaire criticizes management in letter to board -- Carl Ichan's blistered the management of Lionsgate and officially notified the minimajor that he'll launch a proxy fight to take over the board of directors.
Edinburgh fest nutures the new
Film News: Emerging filmmakers at the heart of event -- Three years of funding from the U.K. Film Council to raise fest's profile is over and the future is opaque.
Universal signs deal with Leopolis
Film News: Studio to distrib in Russia for indie -- Universal Pictures Intl. (Russia) has signed a distribution deal for Russia and former Soviet territories with leading indie production shingle Leopolis.
Weinsteins nab ‘Reign of Assassins’
Film News: Company takes North American rights -- The Weinstein Company has picked up North American and South African rights to upcoming Michelle Yeoh starrer "Reign of Assassins."
Edinburgh books Hornby, Cave
Film News: Gil Scott-Heron docu to screen at festival -- Novelist and screenwriter Nick Hornby ("An Education") and author-musician-screenwriter Nick Cave ("The Proposition") have been added to the 64th Edinburgh Film Festival lineup.
Lea Michele heads to ‘Oz’
Film News: 'Glee' star to voice animated 3D musical -- Summertime Entertainment's animated 3D musical "Dorothy of Oz" has snagged Lea Michele of "Glee" to voice the lead part and provide vocals on several original musical numbers.
World Cup kicks off today
Film News: Theaters brace for loss of core male audience -- The monthlong World Cup soccer tournament kicks off today in South Africa -- and theaters in Europe can say goodbye to much of their core male audiences, who will be glued to TVs and portable devices.
Cuban may sell Lionsgate shares to Icahn
Film News: Media magnate owns 5.3% of minimajor -- Carl Icahn's received a major boost from Mark Cuban in his ongoing battle with Lionsgate.
DreamWorks bolts back to biz
Film News: Six films set for production this summer -- DreamWorks Studios has gone from a dead stop to flat-out gallop: It has six films in production this summer, all eyeing 2011 bows.
Cannes clarifies competition guidelines
Film News: Fremaux enforces rules after 'Burnt' violation -- The Cannes Film Festival will take a more stringent line on competition films after it emerged that Russia's entry, Nikita Mikhalkov's "Burnt by the Sun 2: Exodus," had been released outside its home territory before the fest unspooled.