N.Y. TV Fest adds development partners

The NY Television Festival, heading into its eight year, Friday introduced nine development partners because of its 2012 edition this fall including IFC, MTV and VH1. IFC, which acquired approaching series "Bunk" from the 2010 fest, has became a member of MTV and VH1 as award sponsor for that Pilot Competition and it is seeking comedy distribution because of its third annual As they are award. MTV is searching for animated and live-action comedies and VH1 for unscripted formats because of its VH1 Creative Lab "Theory of Creativeness" Award which includes a development deal. The growing festival is striving being the Sundance of television -- determining independent creative talent and fostering connections with systems, galleries and types. It unspools March. 22-27 at Tribeca Movie theaters and also the 92YTribeca in lower Manhattan. Sundance Funnel, SevenOne Intl., Bio Funnel, Logo design, Hasbro Galleries and Funnel 4 have signed onto take pitches and guarantee an improvement deal each for just one producer. Hasbro may be the first partner within the children's entertainment category. Funnel 4 may be the first worldwide network partner. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Ascot Elite grabs 'Marilyn'

BERLIN -- German-Swiss distrib Ascot Elite has acquired all German-speaking territory rights to Simon Curtis' "My Week With Marilyn." The group's Munich-based distrib arm Ascot Elite Filmverleih will release The Weinstein Co. title, which won Oscar noms for Michelle Williams' starring role as Lana Turner and Kenneth Branagh's perf as Laurence Olivier, in April. Ascot Elite's release slate in Germany includes David Wnendt's considerably acclaimed neo-Nazi drama "Kriegerin" (Combat Women) Rob Nichols' Cannes award-champion "Take Shelter," starring Michael Shannon ("Guy of Steel"), which hits local screens in March, and Ken Scott's Canadian box-office hit "Starbuck," which opens this summer season. Ascot Elite recently acquired a slew of high-profile game game titles for Swiss release, including Ron Howard's F1 drama "Hurry" Derek Cianfrance's "The Region Beyond the Pines," starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper and Allen Hughes' "Broken City." The distrib also nabbed Swiss rights to Louis Leterrier's "At This Point You See Me," Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave," as well as the Wachowski brothers and sisters and Tom Tykwer's "Cloud Atlas." Ascot Elite Europe family member its most effective years this season, achieving a 13.6% business within the u . s . states. Contact Erection dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

AMC Theaters, Codeblack in exclusive deal

Jakes AMC Theaters and Codeblack Entertainment have formed a multiyear partnership to exclusively release films at select AMC locations. T.D. Jakes' thriller "Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On The 7th Day" will be the first film under the pact when it's released April 13 at part of the AMC Independent program. "On the 7th Day" stars Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal, Pam Grier and Nicole Beharie, and the film is the second in Jakes' "Woman Thou Art Loosed!" franchise. Pic, shot on location in New Orleans, centers on a married couple, portrayed by Underwood and Leal, whose young daughter is kidnapped, possibly by a serial killer who murders his victims "on the seventh day."Feature's produced by Codeblack Entertainment and exec produced by T.D. Jakes for T.D.J Enterprises. Neema Barnette is directing from Cory Tynan's script.Under the partnership films, films can expand into other theaters following their exclusive run in the AMC locations. The companies didn't disclose how long AMC's exclusivity window will last."The partnership with Codeblack will bring needed exposure to films like 'Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On The 7th Day' that reach a key demographic among our guests," said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, AMC veepee of specialty and alternative content. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

'Holmes' takes top spot overseas

Overseas box office kicked off the new year with a new weekend champ: Warner Bros.' "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" grossed a stellar $44.9 million over the Jan. 6-8 sesh, with Fox's "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" placing second, with $31 million. Both unseated Paramount's three-week international B.O. leader, "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," which collected $29.5 million.Overall, "Mission" has cumed $289.9 million overseas, with "Sherlock" at $180.6 million and "Chipwrecked" $129.8 million.The weekend tally for "Game" was boosted by No. 1 openings in Australia and Spain, contributing $6.7 million and $4.7 million, respectively, with both bows better than the local launches for Warner's first "Sherlock" in 2009.In Oz, "Game of Shadows" finished roughly 80% higher than the weekend take of Fox's "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," which collected $3.7 million in its second frame there. At the Spanish B.O., "The Iron Lady," distribbed locally by Wanda Films, launched with a strong $1.7 million -- a strong start for Margaret Thatcher biopic, according to local bookers."We think it's a pic about a lady, not a politician," says Wanda distribution manager Miguel Morales. "We've marketed it that way."Live action/toon hybrid "Chipwrecked" bowed at No. 1 in Brazil, with $6.7 million, and Italy, where the pic ranked second with $4.9 million. Like "Sherlock," "Chipwrecked" did better in both debut territories than its predecessors.Globally, "Chipwrecked" has cumed $241.4 million through Jan. 8; "Ghost Protocol" $459.5 million and "Game" $337.6 million. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Microsoft makes its final CES keynote speech

When Microsoft announced plans to stop giving the keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show, the company implied the reason was because it didn't have a lot to say. And it certainly backed that up Monday night.At times entertaining, at times baffling and at times a bit dry, Microsoft's final appearance at CES was more notable because of the finality attached to it than what was said on stage.CEO Steve Ballmer abandoned his typical master of ceremonies approach for a more casual interview format with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest steering the conversation, though never deviating too far from the script.Rather than offering brand new looks into the future, the company instead mostly recapped recent announcements, such as the release of Windows Phone 7 and the inclusion of Bing voice search on the Xbox 360. The keynote also a rather in-depth look at the user interface for Windows 8, which will be out in 2012.There were a few minor new announcements, such as a pair of new Windows Phones - including the HTC Titan 2, which will boast a 16 MB camera - and the introduction of Sesame Street TV on the Xbox 360, which will offer free interactive episodes of the popular children's program as the console looks to increase its appeal to families.Microsoft will not host a booth or deliver a keynote at next year's show and the company has implied that its absence could be a lengthy one, but Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro tried to downplay those impressions, saying onstage "I would be shocked if a Microsoft leader does not return to the keynote stage in the next few years."He also offered thanks to the company for serving as the show's kickoff for the past 14 years."Microsoft took a risk on us early and we both benefited," said Shapiro. "But as much as our human inclination is to protect the status quo, we realize that change is the only constant, so we agreed to pause. I offer gratitude and goodwill towards Microsoft."Ballmer was appreciative of the kind words, but offered no sign that the company was planning a return after its absence next year."Thanks for a great partnership," he told Shapiro. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Kaye Stevens dies at 79

Singer and actress Kaye Stevens, who carried out using the Rat Pack and would be a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show," died Wednesday in the Towns Hospital north of Orlando, Fla., carrying out a fight with cancer of the breast and thrombus. She was 79.Stevens carried out with Rat Pack people including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Junior. and Joey Bishop. She also sang solo at venues like Caesars Structure in Vegas and also the Plaza Hotel's Persian Room in NY City.Throughout the Vietnam War era, Stevens carried out for American soldiers within the combat zone with Bob Hope's USO tour.Stevens was created Catherine Louise Stephens in Pittsburgh. Her family eventually gone to live in Cleveland, in which a teenage Stevens got her start like a drummer and singer. She later married now deceased bandleader and trumpet player Tommy Amato, and also the couple carried out through the eastern U.S.Throughout a gig in Nj, Stevens is discovered by Erectile dysfunction McMahon, Carson's longtime partner, which brought to new reservations. Her large break came when she was playing a lounge in the Riviera Hotel in Vegas: Darlene Reynolds grew to become ill and was not able to do within the primary room Stevens completed and was an immediate hit.Stevens launched a minimum of six album, most on Liberty Records. The 1962 novelty album "(Not Too) Great Tunes (That Have Been Excluded from) Great Movies (For Apparent Reasons)" includes tracks for example "Splendor within the Grass (or, Lawn Parties Could Be Fun)," "Frankenstein (in 3/4 Time)" and "Judgment at Nuremberg (or, A Hun and the Honeybun)."Besides singing, Stevens also behaved in film and tv. She made an appearance in six movies, generating a Golden Globe nomination in 1964 for "The Brand New Interns." She would be a regular celebrity player on gameshows for example "Match Game," "Hollywood Squares," "Celebrity Contest," and "Password" and made an appearance like a regular on "Times of Our Way Of LifeInch from 1974-79. She most lately made an appearance onscreen within the 1992 telepic "Miss America: Behind the Crowns."Throughout yesteryear 2 decades, Stevens carried out only Christian and loyal music. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com