Hollywood
Two funding agencies to jointly promote children’s cinema at BIFF
NEW DELHI: The Netherlands Film Fund and the MDM, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH, have established a co-development fund to jointly support script development for original children’s film projects.
Children’s films have always played a major role within the policy of both funds. By joining forces the funds aim to develop and coproduce high quality stories for children that will find their audience in both countries and beyond.
MDM director Manfred Schmidt and Netherlands Film Fund CEO Doreen Boonekamp launched the initiative at the Berlinale co-production market at the International Film Festival Berlin. The initiative reinforces the recently signed coproduction treaty between Germany and the Netherlands in order to enhance the collaboration and coproduction between the two countries.
Proposals for original, live action feature films for children in the age groups 4-6, 6-9 and 9-12 years old are eligible. The film projects should be about contemporary matters and are to be told from the perspective of children. There are no limitations regarding style or genre.
Priority will be given to projects that already have a co-producer or co-writer attached from Germany or the Netherlands. Applications should originate from the Netherlands or from the region of Mitteldeutschland (Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thueringen).
The initial budget of the fund amounts up to € 100,000, each party contributing € 50,000. Projects will be selected by a selection committee existing of the CEOs of both funds or their representatives. The first application date for the new fund is 14 April 2015.
In the past years several German Dutch children’s films were developed and produced like Supernova (2013, script writer, director Tamar van den Dop, production: Revolver Amsterdam (NL) in co-production with IJswater Films (NL) Coin Film (DE) and Epidemic (BE), Tony Ten (2012, script writer Mieke de Jong, director Mischa Kamp, production Lemming Film (NL), in co-production with Heino Deckert Ma.ja.de. (DE) and Lepel (2004, script writer Mieke de Jong, director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen, production Lemming Film (NL), in co-production with: Egoli Tossel Films (DE).
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
