International Film Week 25 Scanbox Expands Down Under

Danish film production company Scanbox, which opened an Asia-Pacific regional office in Australia last year, has created a sales and distribution arm, Scanbox International, operating out of Scanbox's Melbourne and Los Angeles offices. The outfit will handle around 10 films a year, with budgets ranging from AUS$2 million-AUS$10 million ($1.2 million-$6.1 million), in addition to representing the Cannon film library and other independent acquisitions, according to Devesh Chetty, general manager of Scanbox Asian Pacific. Scanbox International will be headed up by Chris Davis, from Scanbox's Los Angeles-based production arm Imperial Entertainment.

-- Blake Murdoch



New Italian library nabs Apra

ROME -- Italian film critic Adriano Apra has been appointed director of Italy's new Rome-based national film library, one of the world's largest with more than 35,000 titles. Apra, who currently heads the Pesaro International Film Festival, will be in charge of creating an online catalog of Italian movies that are available, and where necessary, will supervise their restoration.

-- Nick Vivarelli



Beyond gets case of 'Wiggles'

SYDNEY -- Australian sales agent Beyond Films acquired international rights to the debut film from the Wiggles, Australia's popular performance act for children. Beyond is set to launch "The Wiggles Movie" at MIFED in November. The film was released domestically last Christmas by 20th Century Fox. Beyond's acquisition coincides with confirmation from Disney Channel Australia that the four-man band will perform at Disneyland Sept. 29-Oct. 1, with footage of the concerts to be packaged into specials for airing later in the year. "The Wiggles Movie" was directed by Dean Covell and produced by Hilton Fatt.

-- Blake Murdoch