Commish dishes on media proposal

The suggested revamping of key European Commission film programs gets a lift at Berlin.Androulla Vassiliou, European commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, spoken in the commission's proposal because of its new Creative Europe program in the Berlinale on Sunday.Creative Europe will bring together the present culture, media and Media Mundus programs and can include a brand new financial facility to enhance use of gold coin for small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations within the cultural and inventive industries.The Ecu Parliament and also the Council of Ministers are required to election around the proposal the coming year, even though it likes support in the former, it might face problems with the second because from the ongoing financial crisis.Vassiliou, however, stresses the entire cultural sector constitutes a significant contribution to jobs and growth, representing 4.5% of total European GDP and comprising some 3.8% from the labor force.Creative Europe includes a suggested budget of just one.8 billion ($2.37 billion) for 2014-20. Of this, some $1.2 billion could be allotted towards the Media Program, representing a rise in excess of 20%. The Media Program includes a seven-year budget of $996 million through 2013 targeted at supporting Europe's film industry, having a concentrate on film development, promotion and distribution included in its pursuit to support competition and cultural diversity.For that European film industry, EU funding is important in supporting pan-continental distribution of films, European productions abroad and offering incentives to European and worldwide arthouse theaters that showcase European movies.The funding initiatives also generate revenue. The commission claims that each euro ($1.31) committed to the Europa Movie theaters chain, for instance, creates $15 in revenue, and outdoors Europe, every euro committed to the Europa Cinema Intl. chain creates $22.42 of revenue."Europe can offer significant added value through specific purchase of the audiovisual and cultural industries, that are important contributing factors to growth and jobs," Vassiliou stated. "Creative Europe can help the ecu film industry to reply to the difficulties of digitization and globalization, yet still time helping us to guard and promote Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity."One of the nearly 400 worldwide films unspooling in the Berlinale, 18 European productions are based on the Media Program, including competition screeners for example Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod's "Bel ami," Nikolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair," Antonio Chavarrias' "Childish Games," Ursula Meier's "Sister," Spiros Stathoulopoulos' "Meteora" and "Shadow Dancer," by James Marsh.Additionally, it bankrolls initiatives like the EFP's Shooting Stars event at Berlin towards the tune of $660,000 - 50% of their total budget - along with the Berlinale Co-Production Market and also the Talent Campus, while Media Mundus, which will help the ecu industry abroad, is supporting the brand new Berlinale Residency fellowship program. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at erectile dysfunction.meza@mannaa.de

U nabs U.K., Scandi rights to 'Marley'

Universal Pictures Intl. Entertainment has clicked on up U.K. and Scandinavian rights to Bob Marley docu "Marley," helmed by Kevin Macdonald. Pic, that's on offer by Fortissimo Films, has furthermore provided to Italia (Lucky Red-colored-colored), The nation (Avalon Distribution), Nigeria (Nu Metro), Portugal (Lusomundo/Film & TV House), Germany and Austria (Studiocanal), Belgium (Best Film), France (Wild Side Films), South Usa (Cinemax South Usa Pan Regional Pay TV), Oz and Nz (Roadshow), Benelux (E1), Middle East (Front Row) and Europe (Elite). Pic is skedded for just about any April 20 release inside the U.K. Shangri-La Entertainment and Tuff Gong Pictures produced, in colaboration with Cowboy Films. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Ascot Elite grabs 'Marilyn'

BERLIN -- German-Swiss distrib Ascot Elite has acquired all German-speaking territory privileges to Simon Curtis' "My Week With Marilyn." The group's Munich-based distrib arm Ascot Elite Filmverleih will release The Weinstein Co. title, which won Oscar noms for Michelle Williams' starring role as Lana Turner and Kenneth Branagh's perf as Laurence Olivier, in April. Ascot Elite's release slate in Germany includes David Wnendt's significantly acclaimed neo-Nazi drama "Kriegerin" (Combat Women) Shaun Nichols' Cannes award-champion "Take Shelter," starring Michael Shannon ("Guy of Steel"), which hits local screens in March, and Ken Scott's Canadian box-office hit "Starbuck," which opens this summer time. Ascot Elite lately acquired a slew of high-profile game titles for Swiss release, including Ron Howard's F1 drama "Hurry" Derek Cianfrance's "The Area Past the Pines," starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper and Allen Hughes' "Damaged City." The distrib also nabbed Swiss privileges to Louis Leterrier's "You Now See Me," Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave," and also the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer's "Cloud Atlas." Ascot Elite Europe loved one its most powerful years this year, achieving a 13.6% share of the market in the united states. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

'Jersey Shore' premiere draws 7.6 000 0000

Fans welcomed Snooki and Co. for your garden Condition with open arms.Season five premiere of MTV's megahit reality series ''Jersey Shore'' came 7.6 000 0000 audiences Thursday evening. That was up by of a million within the season four finale but lower in regards to a million from last season's premiere.The ''Jersey Shore'' gang embarked to Italia last season and there's some concern the show was losing traction having its 12-34 demo, but returning to Seaside Levels, N.J., reduce some fans and also require averted.Series is professional produced by SallyAnn Salsano and her 495 Prods. shingle. Jacquelyn French professional produces for MTV. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

NBC at TCA: Scoop on The Voice, Smash, SVU and Community's Future

NBC logo After a "really bad fall," NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt is hopeful about midseason, he said at the Television Critics Association winter previews.Get more scoop on your favorite shows in our Winter TV previewOn the fourth-place network's deck: Season 2 of The Voice (featuring Kelly Clarkson, Lionel Richie, Miranda Lambert and Alanis Morissette, among others, as guest mentors), the eagerly anticipated Smash, Harry Connick Jr. as a new beau for Law & Order: SVU's Mariska Hargitay (who is not leaving the show) - and, yes, Community, which will return at some point this spring. The benched sitcom is not canceled, but it also has not been renewed for a fourth season.Get caught up with all of NBC's TCA news below:NBC scoop! Hargitay signs up for another season of SVU, Community to return in springLaw & Order: SVU scoop: Harry Connick Jr. to play Benson's new love interestAlec Baldwin renews contract with 30 Rock - if the show stays onFashion Star: It's not just about the fashion - It's also about the shopping!

Seth Rogen Twitter: Three Strange Stories About Tom Cruise, Jonah Hill, Wolf Blitzer

Seth Rogen has joined Twitter, but don't let yourself get too comfortable with the idea of the '50/50' star participating in the social network for very long. Per his bio, Rogen will only tweet until Jan. 13; he's using the service to promote his charity event, Hilarity for Charity, which happens in Los Angeles on that day later this month. As it turns out, Rogen is also using Twitter to tell some hilarious stories that involve Jonah Hill, psychedelic mushrooms, and that time he peed in Tom Cruise's driveway. True Story 1: I once peed in a Snapple bottle in my car while parked in Tom Cruise's driveway. - Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 2, 2012 True Story 2: While trying to park at a party a few months ago, I smashed into @JonahHill 's car. I still haven't fixed it. - Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 3, 2012 True Story 3: I went to a strange party on shrooms. Ron Rifkin was there, and I was freaking out because I thought he was Wolf Blitzer. - Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 3, 2012 Seth Rogen: Twitter newbie and champion. (Assuming the verified account is actually his; right, Wendi Deng?) Hilarity for Charity happens on Jan. 13. You can find out more about the event by clicking here. [via @Sethrogen] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Prestige surpasses kudos gold gold coin

'In Darkness''Declaration of War''The Flowers of War''Happy, Happy'The foreign-language Oscar race is marketing a standing as highly competitive and unpredictable.It's not surprise, then, that box office chance of the category's top horses might be much like unpredictable, meaning an Oscar win (in addition to nomination) doesn't necessarily guarantee B.O. success.Consider a year ago, once the new the new sony Pictures Classics' foreign-lingo champion, Danish helmer Susanne Bier's "In the Better World," assigned out in your area just $1.millions of, while SPC's other high-profile nominee, "Incendies," and Kerbside Attractions' "Biutiful" both saw substantially greater B.O. returns. "Incendies," which cumed $6.9 million inside the U.S. and Canada, totalled $2.millions of of the overall gross after bowing Stateside on April 22, 2010 "Biutiful" showed up at $5.millions of, getting launched three several days formerly Jan. 28.Kerbside timed its biggest expansion for "Biutiful" at 182 locations to coincide while using Oscar ceremony on Feb. 27. In contrast, "In the Better World" -- at its biggest -- examined just 51 playdates, bowing initially that year on April 1.This Past Year, however, the Acad's foreign-language champion, "The Important Thing for them,In . acquired a substantial $6.4 million. That year's possibly greater-profile nominees, "The White-colored Ribbon" and "A Prophet," made just north of $2 million each. The 2nd pair acquired strong notice from celebrated festival play -- "The White-colored Ribbon" won Cannes' Palme d'Or, while "A Prophet" also carried out in Cannes competition and won the Grand Prix. (SPC handled domestic distribution for individuals three.)Though Oscar glory doesn't necessarily ensure a box office hit, it's still a enjoyable resource to own.one of the year's best bets -- that's, knowing by early fest traction -- is Iranian entry "A Separation," which won the Berlin Film Festival's top prize. The brand new the new sony Classics, which nabbed U . s . States rights for the film in May, expects to produce the pic Stateside on 12 ,. 30. SPC will distribute three more foreign-language distribution -- "Footnote," from Israel "In Darkness" (Belgium) and "Which Side We Proceed Now?Inch (Lebanon) -- though not until next season.InchIn Darkness," helmer Agnieszka Holland's latest film, is alone of SPC's 2012 trio that could benefit immediately in the potential nom, beginning Feb. 10. "Footnote" bows in March "Which Side We Proceed Now?Inch is skedded for your second quarter.Other potential short-listers, China's "The Flowers of War," from distrib Wrekin Hill, and Mexico's "Miss Bala," set to endure Fox Intl., will bow in your area with time to learn in the nomination."Elite Squad: The Enemy Within," Brazil's official Oscar submission, hit Stateside plexes on November. 11 via Variance Films and contains cumed $75,473. But on its home turf, the film released a massive $62 million tally, which causes it to be Brazil's finest-grossing release since reliable B.O. stats increased being accessible in 1970. The follow-up first launched in your town on March. 8, 2010. High-profile photos with distribution and release history South usa "Elite Squad: The Enemy Within" Distribution: Variance Release date: November. 11 B.O.: $75,473 China "The Flowers of War" Distribution: Wrekin Hill Release date: late December Finland "Le Havre" Distribution: Janus Films Release date: March. 21 B.O.: $358,701 France "Commitment of War" Distribution: Sundance Selects Release date: Jan. 27 Germany "Pina" Distribution: Sundance Selects Release date: 12 ,. 23 Hungary "The Turin Equine" Distribution: The Cinema Guild Release date: Feb. 10 Iran "A Separation" Distribution: The brand new the new sony Classics Release date: 12 ,. 30 Israel "Footnote" Distribution: The brand new the new sony Classics Release date: March 9 Lebanon "Which Side We Proceed Now?Inch Distribution: The brand new the new sony Classics Release date: Second-quarter 2012 Mexico "Miss Bala" Distribution: Fox Intl. Release date: Jan. 20 Norwegian "Happy, Happy" Distribution: Magnolia Release date: Sept. 16 B.O.: $45,154 Belgium"In Darkness" Distribution: The brand new the new sony Classics Release date: Feb. 10Eye round the Oscars: Language 2012 Where film can be a harmful biz Hollywood gold gold coin in hot pursuit Prestige surpasses kudos gold gold coin Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com