Syndicate Films, UK production and distribution company has launched a £1.7m production fund under the UK's Enterprise Investment Scheme. The funds raised will be used to produce and distribute up to three thriller/horror genre films. These genres as they are consistently in high demand in the UK and international film markets, illustrated by the success of films like Ca...

  The top 10 performing UK films last year took $2.6bn (£1.38bn), compared with $1.17bn in 2003, more than doubling their share of the worldwide box office in two years, according to figures announced by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in Cannes.

  Hollywood actress Sharon Stone is planning to team up with a British movie production company, and launch a $100 million (£56 million) fund to make new films. Stone already produces in the US.     The star of Basic Instinct has always been enthusiastic about the UK movie industry, and has now found a way to get involved first-hand.

    Bollywood's colour and spectacle is to come face to face with the rather more sober pinstripes of the City after Eros International announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange - a move that could see the Indian film group valued at more than $400m (£210m).

  Hedge funds and investment banks have been courting Hollywood with big money deals over the past couple of years Now though, rather than just lending to the studios, they are betting on a share of potential box office hits by investing in a share of film revenues.

  Starbucks has signed Hollywood talent agency William Morris to suggest music, film and book projects for the Seattle-based coffee retailer to consider marketing and distributing in its stores, according to the Los Angeles Times.

  The film adaptation of The History Boys, the Alan Bennett play which opened to critical acclaim on Broadway last week, will test a new business model for British film-making when it opens in cinemas this autumn.An unusual financing package put together by a specialist media and technology legal practice, Wiggin, the film is designed to turn a profit from opening day.

  Invicta Capital, the leading finance film that found funding for The Da Vinci Code movie is pulling out of the industry because of new tax laws, it has been reported. Closing of tax loopholes has been blamed

   Brit Daniel Battsek is the new President of Miramax. He previously headed distribution and production for Buena Vista International in the UK..