ROME -- Franco-Tunisian film powerbroker Tarak Ben Ammar is on the verge of closing a deal to take control of Italian distributor Eagle Pictures, according to Italian media reports and a source close to the negotiations. He is also looking beyond that buy toward the possible acquisition of a "major" European distributor.
Ben Ammar is the director of France's Quinta Communications, a board member of the Weinstein Co., and an advisor to both former Italian prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi and News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch.
In addition to his relationship with Berlusconi, Ben Ammar's Italian roots extend to investment bank Mediobanca, where he sits on the board, and television content producer Lux Vide, where he is a major shareholder.
Eagle Pictures is about to be added to the list, according to a report in the financial daily Il Sole/24 Ore that was confirmed by a source close to the deal.
Italy's fourth-largest distributor is controlled by founders Stefano and Ciro Dammicco, but it is not clear whether Ben Ammar will take control of Eagle Pictures by acquiring the Dammicco's 38% stake in the company or by buying out smaller shareholders.
Ben Ammar is the director of France's Quinta Communications, a board member of the Weinstein Co., and an advisor to both former Italian prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi and News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch.
In addition to his relationship with Berlusconi, Ben Ammar's Italian roots extend to investment bank Mediobanca, where he sits on the board, and television content producer Lux Vide, where he is a major shareholder.
Eagle Pictures is about to be added to the list, according to a report in the financial daily Il Sole/24 Ore that was confirmed by a source close to the deal.
Italy's fourth-largest distributor is controlled by founders Stefano and Ciro Dammicco, but it is not clear whether Ben Ammar will take control of Eagle Pictures by acquiring the Dammicco's 38% stake in the company or by buying out smaller shareholders.
- 10/17/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Variety reports that Andy Garcia, Frances O'Connor and Angela Bassett are slated to star in British filmmaker Graham Theakston's adaptation of the 1998 novel The Lazarus Child. Adapted by Ron Bass from Robert Mawson's novel, the film centers on a young girl who goes into a coma after being hit by a bus. Her 12 year-old brother teams up with an eccentric researcher to travel into his sister's mind with the hope of bringing her back. Warner Bros. will distribute the Morgan Creek film, which is slated to start filming July 28; Bass will co-produce the film with Chiro Dammicco.
- 4/21/2003
- IMDbPro News
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