Sky pioneers new service

Sky Movies is to introduce a new service which will allow viewers to pick the time at which they want a film to start.

The service will be launched on November 15 with the TV premiere of Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. Viewers will be able to choose the start time by pressing the red button on their Sky remote control.

It is the first time such a system has been used on TV anywhere in the world and comes as part of a major revamp of Sky's movie channels.

Other new features will include a new world cinema strand, and star ratings for films in the onscreen TV listings.

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Stage fright strikes French protesters

Striking showbusiness workers invaded the set of France's most popular talent show, Star Academy, and forced it off the air on Saturday night.

However, the stunt - protesting against planned benefit cuts - fizzled out when the strikers' spokesman got stage fright in front of millions of viewers.

Veteran French star Jacques Dutronc had challenged the protesters to put their case forward in song.

Film festivals around France were cancelled this summer due to strikes.

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Iglesias sued over copyright

Enrique Iglesias and his producer are being sued for a copyright violation over the use of the title track of his album Escape.

Henry Lorenzo Haynes says that Iglesias' producer Steve Morales accepted a song from him entitled Remind Me for the singer's 2001 album.

The song appeared on the album under new title Escape, with no credit given to Mr Haynes, he says.

"Even an ordinary observer can hear the exact copy," he said. Iglesias' record company was unavailable for comment.

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Portugese push for Potter

The latest Harry Potter book will have a record Portuguese print run of 100,000 copies when published there this week.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix will be launched in Portugal at a party in Lisbon on Thursday.

The paper Jornal de Noticias said author JK Rowling originally dreamed up Potter in Portugal where she was living at the beginning of the 1990s.

Potter's adventures are available in nearly 50 languages worldwide.

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Sheridan takes Flanders prize

Irish director Jim Sheridan has won the prize for best movie at the Flanders international film festival in Belgium for his film In America.

The story of an Irish family moving to New York was praised by jury president Jeanne Moreau for being "full of energy and with wonderful actors".

Jim Sheridan's past films include My Left Foot and In The Name Of The Father.

South Korea's Im Songsoo won the Best Director prize for his sexually-charged film A Good Lawyer's Wife.

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U2 back abuse support group

U2 have given fresh hope to a support group for sex abuse victims by making a £28,000 donation.

One in Four faced closure, and was asking for more money from the Irish government when the donation was made.

Director Colm O'Gorman said it was "an amazing surprise" that U2 and its manager gave "that level of support".

The Irish band's donation will enable the support group to continue for at least another month. It has asked the government to honour a £57,000 pledge.

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