Prime Video has set a streaming debut for veteran Bollywood actor Boman Irani’s first directorial venture “The Mehta Boys,” following its acclaimed festival run. The family drama, which nabbed Best Feature Film at the 2024 Chicago South Asian Film Festival, explores the volatile dynamics between a father and son forced to spend 48 hours together. […]

Mumba Devi Motion Pictures’ latest feature “I’m Not an Actor” (“Main Actor Nahin Hoon”), starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa, will have its world premiere at the 2025 Cinequest Film Festival in California this March. The Hindi and English-language drama, directed by Aditya Kripalani, follows a frustrated but puritanical actor in Mumbai who spends a […]

“Slow Horses” star Jack Lowden and Emmy winner Martin Freeman are teaming up for the West End transfer of David Ireland’s “The Fifth Step,” set to bow at London’s @sohoplace theater for an 11-week limited engagement beginning in May. Director Finn den Hertog is reimagining the piece for the intimate in-the-round space. The drama, which […]

Jennie, a member of K-pop powerhouse Blackpink, is poised to make her mark as a solo artist with the announcement of her debut studio album, “Ruby.” Due to release on March 7, the album will be distributed through her self-established label, Odd Atelier, in partnership with Columbia Records. The 15-track album features collaborations with artists […]

In a sweeping move to champion Asian cinema, Chanel’s Culture Fund is making waves across Hong Kong and Thailand, uniting Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton and Palme d’Or recipient Apichatpong Weerasethakul for a landmark collaboration. In Hong Kong, the initiative includes Chanel’s partnership with M+ museum is spearheading a restoration program under the guidance of […]

India-headquartered global animation outfit Toonz Media Group is betting big on character-building entertainment, partnering with BLKBX Originals and MVP Kids to develop a new 3D animated series and Roblox game based on the popular children’s brand. The deal will see the production of 52 seven-minute episodes aimed at expanding the reach of MVP Kids’ diverse […]

Francesca Moody Productions, the powerhouse behind theater sensations “Fleabag” and “Baby Reindeer,” is bringing Tim Crouch’s groundbreaking play “An Oak Tree” to London’s The Young Vic Theatre this spring, assembling a roster of heavy-hitting talent including Sope Dirisu (“Gangs of London”), Michelle Terry (“Tribes”), Luke Thompson (“Bridgerton”), Russell Tovey (“American Horror Story: NYC”) and Indira […]

Netflix is expanding its unscripted slate with “Offline Love,” a unique Japanese dating series that challenges modern romance by stripping away digital devices. Set to premiere globally on Feb. 18, the 10-episode series follows 10 singles searching for connection in Nice, France, with just 10 days to find love through serendipitous encounters. The show marks […]

Indian actor Kani Kusruti has nabbed IMDb’s “Breakout Star” STARmeter Award, riding high on the heels of her critically acclaimed turns in Cannes winner “All We Imagine as Light” and Sundance-winning “Girls Will Be Girls.” The laurel, determined from IMDb’s monthly traffic of over 250 million visitors worldwide, signals Kusruti’s meteoric rise on the platform’s […]

The U.K.’s National Theatre is doubling down on star power for its upcoming season, with Clive Owen, “Slow Horses” actor Saskia Reeves and “Saltburn” star Rosamund Pike headlining a slate of four world premieres set to bow in 2025. Owen (“Closer”) returns to the National alongside Reeves in “End,” the final installment of David Eldridge’s […]

Sean Hu’s “Ocean Elegy: The Tragedies of Mudan and Ryukyu,” a seven-years-in-the-making documentary exploring a pivotal 1870s incident that reshaped East Asian geopolitics, will world premiere as the opening film of Japan’s Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival. New Zealand director Miki Magasiva’s “Tinā” is set to close the festival with its […]

Disney’s “A Complete Unknown” soared to the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office, debuting with £2.6 million ($3.2 million), according to numbers from Comscore. The Bob Dylan biographical drama starring Timothée Chalamet gave Disney yet another strong start in the new year. In its fifth week, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” maintained its […]

Major Japanese advertisers are fleeing broadcast powerhouse Fuji Television following an alleged sex scandal involving former boy band idol turned TV host Masahiro Nakai. Industry heavyweights such as Toyota, Nissan and Shiseido are among more than 50 companies pulling their spots from the network, per the Associated Press. The advertising crisis erupted after weekly magazine […]

U.K.-based film programmers Omar Ahmed and Ranjit S. Ruprai are set to debut The Cloud Door, a new boutique label dedicated to bringing South Asian cinema to global audiences, with Kamal Swaroop’s influential cult film “Om Dar-B-Dar” (1988) as its inaugural release. The launch addresses a persistent void in the home video market, where South […]

The highly anticipated second season of “Squid Game” has emerged as not only the most-watched international series in India for 2024 but also achieved the highest viewership of all time in the category, according to a comprehensive report by media consulting firm Ormax Media. The Netflix phenomenon had 19.6 million viewers in India, significantly outperforming […]

Multiple award-winning Indian director Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992,” “Shahid”) is diving into the production game, launching True Story Films with producer Sahil Saigal in a strategic partnership that includes investments from industry heavyweights Vinod Bhanushali and Parag Sanghvi. The newly minted banner, which represents a significant expansion of Mehta’s creative footprint, is launching with an […]

BBC Studios India is reportedly eyeing an exit from the subcontinent, signaling a potential shake-up in the region’s content production ecosystem, according to local media reports. Once a prominent player with hits like local adaptations of “Criminal Justice” and “The Office,” the studio had positioned itself as a bridge between British storytelling and Indian sensibilities. […]

MEDIA MAVEN Japanese broadcasting powerhouse Nippon TV has elevated longtime exec Hiroyuki Fukuda to the top spot, naming him representative director, president and COO. The former rugby player, who joined the network in 1985, steps into the role as the broadcaster faces stiff competition in ratings despite maintaining its golden-time viewership crown in 2024, though […]

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society’s (HKIFF) Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled a slate of 25 in-development projects for its 23rd edition, with renowned auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu among the heavyweight filmmakers backing emerging talent. Among the highlights is “Yellow,” directed by newcomer Yamaura Miyoh and produced by Kore-eda. The film […]