Payal Sethi’s “Kurinji” (aka “The Disappearing Flower”) was Sunday named as the first prize winner of the projects at the Film Bazaar in Goa, India. It earned a $10,000 cash prize. The project explores the theme of “Gulf Wife” syndrome and follows a Kerala housewife whose migrant worker husband in the Gulf region suddenly stops […]

The 28th Black Nights Film Festival, known as PÖFF, wrapped Nov. 22 with an awards ceremony in Tallinn where filmmakers took centre stage to ask for the end of war in the Middle East, solidarity with Georgia under Russian influence and the defence of culture. Oscar-nominated British-Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi – whose debut feature “The Teacher” […]

Dua Lipa is on the Asia leg of her “Radical Optimism” tour, and the singer-songwriter is teasing fresh elements for her devoted fanbase across the continent. The Asia tour kicked off in Singapore and continued across Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia, with India and South Korea to come. After incorporating Jane Fonda-inspired workout routines into […]

Celebrated actor Manisha Koirala (“Bombay,” “1942: A Love Story,” “Khamoshi”) and filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane (“Udaan,” “Trapped”) discussed the evolving landscape between theatrical and streaming platforms during a session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Koirala also revealed plans to write a comedy book about 1990s and 2000s actresses adapting to […]

Recognizing the brilliance of British director Lucy Walker, both as a filmmaker and as an advocate for the documentary format, Shekhar Kapur hurriedly arranged an additional masterclass on Saturday at the International Film Festival of India, where he is festival director. And hosted the session himself. Their conversation ranged from technology and technique through to […]

The vast expanse of opportunity that exists if India and Spain manage to increase and improve their film and TV industry co-operation was on display at a panel session on Sunday at Film Bazaar. “If you explained the incentives, people would be flocking [to Spain] to produce,” said leading Indian producer Nikhil Advani. He cited […]

A panel of leading television executives and creators at Film Bazaar discussed the intricacies of adapting international series for Indian audiences. Banijay Asia’s Mrinalini Jain said that successful adaptations require more than simple translation. “There is a very fine line between translating a format and transposing it, and transposing is where the magic happens,” Jain […]

Tamil cinema star Sivakarthikeyan revealed his unlikely path from computer science engineering to entertainment during a conversation with actor-politician Khushbu Sundar at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The actor, whose recent military drama “Amaran” has performed strongly at the box office, traced his beginnings as a mimicry artist during his engineering […]

Led by former Cannes film market head Jerome Paillard, who is now advising India’s Film Bazaar, leading international producers discussed India-Europe co-productions during a panel at the event in Goa. Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor recounted how her breakthrough film “The Lunchbox” emerged from Film Bazaar itself. “I’ve been coming to Film Bazaar since 2008 and […]

The evolving partnership between India and Australia’s film industries took center stage at Film Bazaar, as key players outlined pathways for collaboration and funding opportunities. Screen Australia COO Grainne Brundson detailed multiple routes for Indian producers to work in Australia, including official co-productions and location-based production. While co-productions require creative and financial contributions from both […]

Chuck Woolery, the veteran game show host who gained fame as the original emcee behind “Wheel of Fortune” and later as the face of the popular syndicated dating show “Love Connection,” has died. He was 83. The news was first reported on the social media site X by Woolery’s friend Mark Young, who noted that […]

Mainland Chinese director Lou Ye claimed the two top honors – best narrative feature film and best director – at the Golden Horse Film Awards on Saturday in Taiwan with his indie title “An Unfinished Film.” The prizes for Lou, and others awarded on the night, represent a defiant gesture towards mainland Chinese authorities which […]

Chad Duell, who has played Michael Corinthos on “General Hospital” for 14 years, is exiting the ABC soap opera. Duell announced the news in an Instagram post on Saturday, writing, “After many incredible years with ‘General Hospital,’ I’ve decided to step away from the show. This wasn’t an easy decision for me, but it feels […]

When the sing-along screenings of “Wicked” go down beginning Christmas Day, I’ll be there — but not because I have any intention of personally raising my voice in song. (Or maybe I’ll join in just with Dr. Dillamond, the goat professor, whose glottal peculiarities probably come closest to the sounds I could produce.) I do […]

Bowen Yang’s initial screen test for “Saturday Night Live” did not go well following an interaction with creator Lorne Michaels, according to the comedian. During a recent interview on “Hot Ones,” Yang recalled his screen test in 2017 for the late-night sketch comedy series. “The final step in that process is you have a one-on-one meeting […]

Ethan Slater is trying to get used to the attention he’s receiving for both his professional and private lives. He’s making his big-screen acting debut as the lovesick Boq in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” opposite Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Baily, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Marissa Bode. Last year, Slater and Grande faced scrutiny […]

What’s in a name? For “Spellbound” director Vicky Jenson, it’s a simple portmanteau. In an early sketch of Flink, Princess Ellian’s adorably mischievous animal sidekick, Jenson wanted him to flash and blink as he energetically flitted about. “I have a tendency to squish words together,” she tells Variety. “So I was like, ‘He just has […]

Jon M. Chu counted himself a fan of “Wicked” long before he was hired to direct the big-budget movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical. So it was a question of where, not if, he should pay homage to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the stage roles of Elphaba and Glinda, in the […]

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers for “Cruel Intentions,” both the 1999 film and the entire first season of the new Prime Video series.”  Twenty-five years later, “Cruel Intentions” will still make you blush. The 1999 film about high-society stepsiblings Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) and Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) curing their privileged boredom by corrupting the […]