International Film Week 13 Micciche Appointed Italian School President

Italian film critic Lino Micciche has been appointed president of Italy's national film school, the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema, a government official confirmed. Micciche stepped down earlier this month as president of the Venice Biennale, the Venice International Film Festival's parent organization. The Scuola Nazionale di Cinema is Italy's oldest and most prestigious film school.

-- Nick Vivarelli



Mars attacks France

PARIS -- Jean Labadie, head of the French independent distributor Bac Films, has created a new distribution company, Mars Films, to handle art films and documentaries, a spokeswoman for the company said Monday. The initial Mars slate for screening in France this year includes the Dutch film "Character," which won the Oscar for best foreign film; "Central do Brasil," the Golden Bear winner in Berlin; and Marc Levin's "Slam," which won the grand prize at Sundance this year.

-- Meg Bortin



Berlin studio makes Valiant effort

BERLIN -- Studio Babelsberg, the financially troubled film and TV studio just outside Berlin, plans to invest DM 50 million ($27 million) in its studio tour over the next three years. New attractions will include a "Prince Valiant" theme restaurant, named after the Constantin Film movie produced there two years ago. Though modest compared with Hollywood, the studio tour is said to be one of the few Babelsberg divisions that makes money. It has attracted 2 million visitors in the past five years, making it the biggest tourist attraction in the former East German region of Brandenburg. Studio Babelsberg is owned by French giant Compagnie General des Eaux.

-- Eric Hansen



A-list Italian 'Dinner' has begun

ROME -- Veteran Italian director Ettore Scola has started shooting a comedy set in a Roman restaurant under the working title "The Dinner." The film, to be produced by Franco Commiteri, stars Italian A-list actors Vittorio Gassman and Stefania Sandrelli and French star Fanny Ardant. Shooting began last week and is scheduled to last for 10 weeks. The film is scheduled for an October release in Italy.

-- Nick Vivarelli