Search

"But most importantly is I think the strong emotional response to the film, both from audiences who expressed it after screening or from film reviews. For Academy voters, the film has an instantly recognizable face in Ricardo Darín, star of 2010 Oscar winner "The Secret in Their Eyes." "Secondly, I'm hoping the thematics the film is dealing with, from identity search and the longing for belonging, to broken families and the difficulties to connect, will resonate as well with the members watching the film. [Extracted from the article]

India is making a significant impact at the Cannes Film Festival this year, with nine films from the country being showcased. Many of these films are directed by or centered around women. One notable film is "All We Imagine as Light" by Payal Kapadia, which is the first Indian film in competition at Cannes in three decades. The festival's focus on women filmmakers is helping to bring attention to the presence of Indian women in the industry. These films are independent productions, separate from the mainstream Bollywood industry. Additionally, Women in Film has announced the formation of a new chapter in India, further supporting and promoting women in the industry. [Extracted from the article]

At the edge of the tiny village of Anajpur on the outskirts of Hyderabad in southern India are a pair of imposing gates with high walls on either side stretching [...]

Movie stars often aren't shy when it comes to using their clout to help shed light on worthy causes, but few have the platform of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, whose [...]

Indian studios have long released their films day-and-date in dozens of countries. The studios' core list of 50 international territories includes North America, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore, [...]

The Voices Behind "Naatu Naatu" Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj are the singers who brought composer M.M. Keeravaani's Golden Globe-winning and Oscar nominated song "Naatu Naatu" from S.S. Rajamouli's "RRR" to life. The singer, who didn't know a single word of Kannada or Tamil, credits the film's line producer M.M. Srivalli and Bhairava, who supported him through the recording sessions. Because the film was shot during the pandemic lockdown, initially Merker was told the actors would need to mask up between takes. [Extracted from the article]

The Mumbai-based Indian majors are heading south along with their Hollywood partners, looking to cash in on the lucrative South Indian film market and expanding their reach beyond Hindi-language Bollywood. [...]

Part of the problem, says film critic Paolo Mereghetti of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, lies in the selection criteria adopted by the commissions picked by Italian motion picture association ANICA each year to select the country's Oscar candidate. "When Italy chooses a film for Oscar consideration, they shouldn't select the entry they consider to be the best overall film. [Extracted from the article]

Oscar-winning producer and former studio chief David Puttnam, arguably the biggest name at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, will head the Jury of Juries for the organization's 10th anniversary. The [...]

Iranian Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi is arguably the greatest discovery in a journey filled with them at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Years before the heights achieved by 'A Separation,' [...]

Sudhanshu Vats, group CEO of Viacom 18 Media, sees India, a nation that follows local tastes in cinema, as a market that will be ripe for Holly wood movies within [...]

The article reports that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is in the process of a major makeover and redevelopment, as of November 2021. Topics covered include the formation of BAFTA in 1947, the in-depth awards review commissioned by BAFTA chairperson Krishnendu Majumdar and the BAFTA Crew scheme. It also discusses the aims of he BAFTA redevelopment.

China gets VOD; France grapples with violence; LatAm bullish on pay TV, but Europe is split 1 INDIA Heeeeere's Jawaani! Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani became the country's top [...]

Blighty chancellor resorts to Force; Spaniards salivate over food shows; France debates mobile tax 1 CHINA Django Eventually Unchained Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained returned to Chinese multiplexes May 12 after [...]

Europe resists U.S. inclusion; pols pressure biz in Russia and India; local pics buoy booming Brazil B.O. (1) INDIA President Pressures Biz President Pranab Mukherjee is urging the film industry [...]

Luxury living in Dubai, India film awards in Vancouver (1) Dubai The world's first Paramount-branded hotel is set for construction in Dubai, part of a $1 billion five-star facility, sold [...]

Zombies in India, Brazil TV shifts, Korean digital marketing 1 Russia What's a religious film fan to do? In mid-March, the Russian Orthodox Church urged followers to give up social [...]

The article offers information on legislation introduced by governments worldwide aimed at video-streaming companies to level the playing field for broadcasters. In Europe, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive involves investment obligations and will introduce terms of trade for streamers like Netflix. A green paper by Australian arts minister Paul Fletcher calls for streaming platforms with over 500,000 subscribers to invest 20 percent of their income in local content.

Production has begun on the horror-thriller film "Borderline," which is being filmed in the U.K. and Malta. The cast includes Lucien Laviscount, Laura Marano, Cynthia Khalifeh, and Jason Flemyng. Khalifeh plays the character Zena, who goes to the Borderline pub for a date but is stood up. She ends up having a drink with a local named Paul, played by Laviscount, who is actually a serial killer. The film is directed by Jane Gull and written by Elizabeth Morris, and it is the first installment of a planned horror franchise. [Extracted from the article]

Indonesia's Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) will be launching its first JAFF Market in December, as announced at Cannes. The three-day event aims to reshape the Indonesian film industry by promoting networking, innovation, and collaboration across different sectors. With the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, JAFF Market seeks to enhance Indonesia's international film presence and provide easier access for the international community. The market will feature over 150 booths with production companies, content creators, and service providers, and will include programs to help emerging filmmakers connect with industry professionals. [Extracted from the article]

India is actively working to become a global production hub by offering enhanced incentives, diverse locations, and a strong presence at Cannes. The country has a record number of Indian or Indian-themed films at Cannes this year, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has organized events at the India Pavilion to attract global content co-producers, sales agents, and distributors. India offers incentives for filming, including reimbursement of up to 40% of production expenditure and additional bonuses for significant Indian content. The country has already attracted 200 international projects since 2016 and is known for its cost competitiveness and high-quality VFX and animation services. The Indian government is also revamping its online portal to provide better resources and support for filmmakers. [Extracted from the article]

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, a renowned Indian director, pitched the idea for his Hindi-language series, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar," to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos during a brief meeting in 2019. The series, which debuted in the US on May 1, is set in the Heeramandi district of Lahore, British India, and follows the story of warring courtesans during India's struggle for independence. Bhansali spent years developing the project, envisioning it as a vast film with intricate details. "Heeramandi" is Netflix's biggest-budget Indian original to date and aims to appeal to a younger audience by incorporating modern cinematography and saucy dialogue. The series also features authentic costumes and jewelry, and the cast received training in Urdu-language diction and body language. Netflix hopes that "Heeramandi" will attract more subscribers in India and globally, as it is subtitled in 35 languages and dubbed in 14. For Bhansali and Moin Beg, the former film journalist who brought the concept to the director, the series is the realization of a long-held dream. [Extracted from the article]

Debut producer the Amrapali Group, a real estate developer that also has interests in educational institutions and the processed food business, certainly chose a provocative title with which to make [...]

MUMBAI The battle for India's youth TV market is heating up. Bindass, Indian media conglom UTV's 3-year-old Hindi-language channel for 18- to 25-year-olds, has stolen the ratings crown away from [...]

UTV is aggressively expanding its gaming division through its subsidiaries Indiagames, True Games and Ignition. Together, the division has development and publishing facilities in the United States, U.K., India and [...]

Gender pay disparity is alive and well in India, while rates for actor and actresses in Taiwan and Israel are more or less equitable. In India, top male actors earn [...]

Prolific Indian composer A.R. Rahman has decided to slow down in order to get more done. The composer, who won an Oscar for 'Slumdog Millionaire' and was nominated for '127 [...]

Irrfan Khan is one of India's most visible film exports, striking a balance between the glitter of Bollywood and Hollywood. He's starred in such Indian pics as mistaken-identity romancer 'The [...]

Toronto this year also boasts a U.K. film set in contemporaneous times that does not draw a direct parallel to history but is rather informed by it. Sharrock sees parallels in the film's theme with today's social media trolling replacing poison-pen letters. The U.K. has a robust presence at the Toronto Intl. [Extracted from the article]

British actor Solly McLeod is gaining recognition with his roles in the films "Last Swim" and "The Dead Don't Hurt." "Last Swim," directed by Sasha Nathwani, follows a British-Iranian teenager named Ziba as she embarks on a journey across London with her friends. McLeod plays one of the key members of the group. In "The Dead Don't Hurt," directed by Viggo Mortensen, McLeod had the opportunity to act alongside experienced actors like Mortensen and Vicky Krieps. McLeod reflects on the different acting styles and the importance of bringing one's own self into a character. "Last Swim" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, and McLeod drew inspiration from his own experiences and the close bond formed with his co-stars during the filming process. [Extracted from the article]

The Berlin Film Festival will feature three Indian narrative fiction features by filmmakers who have gained global recognition for their debut films. Raam Reddy's "The Fable" follows a family living in a Himalayan orchard who are confronted with mysterious fires. P.S. Vinothraj's "The Adamant Girl" tells the story of a young woman in love with a man from a lower caste, while Siddartha Jatla's "In the Belly of a Tiger" explores an old couple's struggle with debt. The filmmakers draw inspiration from real-life incidents and address sensitive issues in their films. [Extracted from the article]

Indian star Allu Arjun has announced plans to expand the franchise of his 2021 hit film "Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1." The sequel, titled "Pushpa 2: The Rule," is currently in production and is set to be released on August 15. Arjun has stated that there are plans for a third installment in the franchise and that they have exciting ideas for the future. The franchise is being promoted internationally, with a sizzle reel being shown at the European Film Market. Arjun promises that "Pushpa 2" will be even bigger than the first film, with a larger scale and different characterizations. [Extracted from the article]

Shout! Studios has acquired the North American rights to the thriller film "Last Straw" from Blue Finch Films. The movie, written by Taylor Sardoni, follows a young waitress working alone at a rural roadside diner who becomes the target of masked assailants. Directed by Alan Scott Neal, the film premiered at Beyond Fest and Sitges and features a cast including Jessica Belkin, Jeremy Sisto, and Taylor Kowalski. The production is a collaboration between Daniel Brandt, Bad Grey, AC3 Media, Burn Later Prods, and others. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses several South Asian films that are contenders in the international feature category for the Academy Awards. One notable film is Bhutan's "The Monk and the Gun," which explores the impact of modernization on the country through the lens of its first elections. Another film gaining attention is Pakistan's "In Flames," which addresses the societal issue of patriarchy. India and Bangladesh also have submissions focusing on the subject of climate change. The article highlights the efforts of filmmakers to promote their films to Academy voters. Mongolia's submission, "City of Wind," is also mentioned, which tells the story of a young shaman in modern Mongolia. [Extracted from the article]

Crowdfunding may be going mainstream in Hollywood, but in India, it is very much the preserve of the independent sector. Facebook and Twitter campaigns are some of the methods current [...]

Uday Shankar, chief executive of the Star India network that is part of Rupert Murdoch's media conglom, has said that lack of freedom of expression is a challenge facing the [...]

In 2012, when Disney completed its $450 million buyout of Indian conglom UTV, there was concern in Indian filmmaking circles that the company'-s motion picture arm would abandon edgy pics [...]

Pakistan will submit an entry to Oscar's foreign-language category after a gap of 50 years, though the committee has not yet chosen the film. Each country is allowed one submission [...]

Ireland's High Court has ordered Internet service providers Vodafone, Digiweb, UPC, Imagine, Telefonica 02 and Hutchison 3G to block file-sharing site Pirate Bay. Music labels EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner [...]

Almost half of Ireland's 4.6 million population own smartphones, and are spending 300% more time online on them compared with 2011, according to research conducted by mobile and broadband operator [...]

India's vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari told a gathering of the National Union of Journalists that dubious ownership has eroded the credibility of the media. Ansari cited a Telecom Regulatory [...]

Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has proposed a tax that could bite Hollywood, Bollywood and Turkish TV. Dar wants a levy of $17,200 per film and $1,720 per television episode [...]

Multi Screen Media India, a subsid of Sony Entertainment Television, launches its first bigscreen pic July 26, the Hindi-lingo Bajate Raho, helmed by Shashant Shah. The pic, a revenge comedy, [...]

Sony Entertainment Television, Times TV and NDTV have discontinued subscriptions with Kantar and Nielsen's TAM Media Research, India's leading TV ratings agency; TAM data determines spending for 75% of India's [...]

The Indian entertainment and media industry that enjoys revenues of $17.2 billion is set to grow to $37.6 billion by 2016, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report. It is a profitable [...]

While nearly two-thirds of all movie screens in the U.S. and more than half in Europe and in India have convetted to digital, the subcontinent's sheer size, diversity and nonstandardized [...]

In Hollywood, TV series offer easy pickings for studios looking to develop known property for the bigscreen. But in India, filmmakers are just starting to harvest the riches of TV--with [...]

R-rated comedies are not just for young Americans. India's youthful filmgoers have taken a liking to local laffers replete with blue language and gross-out moments. With more than 65% of [...]