About 150 films from all over the world will be screened at the 23rd Warsaw International Film Festival in October, including the Polish premieres of several films to be unveiled at major festivals elsewhere in August and September.
Ukrainian billionaire Igor Kolomoisky has invested $110 million (€80.7 million) to acquire an interest in broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (www.cetv-net.com), which operates TV networks in six Central and East European countries
Polish media company Agora SA (www.agora.pl) has named broadcast executive Marek Sowa as the new president of its management board in a move that signals a shift in focus toward the electronic media.
Box office in Western Europe is forecast to increase by 17% over the next five years, according to a new survey by U.K.-based cinema industry analysts Dodona Research that found sharp contrasts to trends in Central Europe.
Commercial Polish television broadcaster Polsat reported net income for the first half of 157.4 million zloty (€40.4 million), down about 10% from the same period in 2006, due to increased investments
For the first time, Poland will be represented in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival (www.labiennale.org) by four films, all co-produced by the Polish Film Institute. The festival started Aug. 29 and lasts through Sept. 8.
Barrandov Studios in Prague has opened a new multifunctional area that will expand the existing modern storage and production space available for film projects.
UPC Holding B.V., the Netherlands-based media company with cable and telephone holdings in 11 countries, reported revenues rose 10% year-on-year to €827 million in the first half. The increase was driven primarily by subscriber growth as well as the acquisition of Karneval, the No. 2 cable operator in the Czech Republic.
The number of cinema screens across Central Europe is set to rise to more than 3,000 by 2011, says a report by the U.K.-based film industry analysts Dodona Research.
Private Polish broadcaster TVN Group (www.tvn.pl) said its second-quarter results beat management's own expectations, with revenues up 32% from the same period in 2006 to 407 million zloty (€109 million). Net profit shot up 64% to 139 million zloty, from 85 million zloty in 2006.
