International Film Week 10

Media Asia realizes China 'Dream'

Major Hong Kong production and distribution house Media Asia is releasing its first film in mainland China, "Dance of a Dream," under the nation's official import quota system through government agency the China Film Group. Media Asia will share revenue from the film's boxoffice and receive a much wider release than it would from a straight sale to the vast market. "Dance" is directed by and stars popular singer-actor Andy Lau. "Dance" was released recently in Hong Kong, grossing about HK$18 million ($2.3 million).

— Blake Murdoch

Sverak's 'World' takes Czech Lions

LONDON — A bilingual film about the wartime heroism of Czech fighter pilots flying with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain scooped five local film awards in Prague on Sunday. Jan Sverak's "Dark Blue World" won Czech Lions for best director, music, cinematography, editing and most popular film with cinema audiences in the Czech Republic's premier annual competition for domestic movies. Veteran Czech director Jan Svankmajer, 67, won the prize for best film for "Little Otik."

— Nick Holdsworth

Pathe falls for 'Mademoiselle'

Pathe Pictures, one of the U.K. lottery-funded filmmaking franchises, has signed scriptwriter Randi Mayem Singer ("Mrs. Doubtfire") to adapt the Esther Vilar novel "The Seven Fires of Mademoiselle" for director Mike Newell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral").

— Stuart Kemp

B.C. film commissioner steps down

VANCOUVER — Mark DesRochers, the head of the British Columbia Film Commission, has resigned as provincial film commissioner after an internal review and a four-month suspension. Alice To, the film commission's marketing manager and DesRocher's companion, also resigned. To had been suspended with pay, along with DesRochers, in November. "It really just came down to conflicting management philosophies," DesRochers told The Hollywood Reporter.