Patrick Frater
Variety
Hong Kong
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Toronto Festival, Korea’s CJ ENM and KOFIC Set up K-Story Fund – Global Bulletin
Toronto and Korean partners launch fund; Astro Malaysia diversifies into post-production; 'Disconnect Me' attaches sales agent. → Read More
Chen Kaige Sets ‘Swan Song’ Tchaikovsky Epic as Next Directorial Project
Leading Chinese director Chen Kaige will helm "Swan Song" epic film about 18th century classical music composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. → Read More
European Film Market Seeks New Balance at Berlin as Streamers Ease the Pressure
A good flow of projects are hitting the EFM, but who will be doing the buying and at what prices remains less clear-cut. → Read More
Adani Group, India’s Biggest Corporation, Accused by Hindenburg Research of ‘Largest Con’ in History
Adani Group, India’s largest corporation and an aspiring media empire builder, has been accused by a U.S. investment firm of “pulling the largest con in corporate history.” Hindenburg Research, a f… → Read More
ATF – Weiyu Films and Studio76 Expand the RisingStories Screenwriting Competition
Weiyu Films and Studio76 expand the RisingStories screenwriting competition and mark the event with a signing ceremony at the ATF. → Read More
AFM Returns In-Person, But Is It Time to Rethink Its Purpose?
This year’s American Film Market made a comeback as an in-person event after two years off due to Covid, but judging by the Loews Hotel’s empty corridors and the dearth of deals announced, it seemed to be a smaller, quieter affair than May’s Cannes Market. While participation figures unveiled by the Independent Film & Television […] → Read More
Tokyo Festival Gets Underway With Skits, Speeches and Bold Comeback Claims
The opening ceremony of the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival was the venue for bold claims about the rebound of the event and the health of the Japanese screen industry. → Read More
Mipcom 2022 Buzz Titles: ‘Prince Andrew: Banished,’ ‘The Gymnasts’ and 13 More to Watch
Mipcom promises to be busier than ever with record levels of attendance as the world returns to 2019 levels of dealmaking following the pandemic. Variety’s top picks reflect global content in its myriad forms: From disgraced princes and gymnasts to religious leaders, dinosaurs and precocious children, these shows are a microcosm of the world in […] → Read More
Busan Film Festival Enjoys Warm Opening After Two-Year Hiatus, Industry Turmoil
The Busan film festival rolled out the red carpet for a host of local and international stars in what felt like a return to normal after a two-year hiatus. → Read More
Kajol Stars in 'The Good Wife' Adapted Series for Disney+ Hotstar
Kajol, one of India’s best-loved actors, stars in Disney+ Hotstar series “The Good Wife – Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka,” an adaptation of the CBS series of the same name. Disney unveiled a first look image for the show that is now in production. With the Indian title translating as ‘The Good Wife – Love, Law, Deception,’ […] → Read More
Saudi Arabia, Gulf Countries Order Netflix to Remove Un-Islamic Content
Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries in the Middle East have told global streaming giant Netflix to remove un-Islamic content. Although not specified, this is understood to mean that it should take down content including LGBTQ elements. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Committee of the Electronic Media Officials within the Gulf Cooperation Council, a […] → Read More
Hit Canadian Mystery Series ‘Aller Simple’ to be Distributed by Oble (EXCLUSIVE)
French production and distribution firm Oble is to handle international licensing of Canadian hit drama series “Aller Simple” or “No Return.” Produced by French-Canadian firm Sphere Media, the six-episode psychological thriller premiered on prime-time earlier this year in Canada and has been a hit with critics and audiences. It plays on Noovo, where it has […] → Read More
Why HBO Max May Already Have Lost the International Streaming Race — Analysis
Warner Bros. Discovery says it will merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single platform that is commercially and technologically viable. But the conglomerate looks like it will be playing catch-up in streaming markets outside the U.S. for many years to come. That’s a dreadful blunder for a group that contains the iconic pay-TV brand […] → Read More
Sony Pictures Sets Shony Panjikaran and Lada Guruden Singh as Heads of Indian Film Business
Sony Pictures Entertainment has promoted Shony Panjikaran and Lada Guruden Singh to take over the reins of its film distribution and production business in India. Singh has been appointed to GM and head of Sony Pictures International Productions, India. He will oversee SPIP India’s local film development and production slate as well as its expansion […] → Read More
France’s ‘Softie’ and Japan’s ‘Double Life’ Win Top Prizes at Skip City Film Festival
The Skip City International D-Cinema Festival in outer Tokyo wrapped its 19th edition on Sunday with prizes going to “Softie, by French director Samuel Theis, and “Double Life,” by female Chinese director Enen Yo in the separate Japanese film competition. The festival, long a launch pad for emerging Japanese and world filmmakers, held in-person screenings […] → Read More
Philippines’ Mikhail Red to Shoot ‘Deleter’ Techno-Horror Film in Murky Industry of Online Moderation (EXCLUSIVE)
Rising-star Philippines director Mikhail Red is poised to begin shooting of “Deleter,” a film that straddles the techno-horror and psychological thriller genres. The story involves an online content moderator who deletes a suicide video made by her co-worker. But the otherwise desensitized woman cannot escape from either her own troubled past or from a mysterious […] → Read More
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Shot During Campaign Speech
Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister of Japan, was apparently shot during a campaign speech on Friday in Nara, according to the Associated Press and NHK public television. NHK camera footage showed him collapsed on the street, holding his chest, with the broadcasting corporation reporting that he is experiencing heart failure. Abe was rushed to […] → Read More
KCON LA Adds Eight More Acts to K-Pop Convention
Organizers of KCON have unveiled a second tranche of talent joining the 10th anniversary edition of the celebration of K-pop and other aspects of South Korean pop culture. Additional acts announced Wednesday include Ateez, INI, JO1, Kep1er, Lightsum, Loona, NCT Dream and TO1. They join the previously announced stars Cravity, Enhyphen, Itzy, Nmixx, Stayc, the Boyz […] → Read More
'Asian Persuasion' Wraps, 'Supernatural Academy' Sells
PRODUCTION Production has wrapped on “Asian Persuasion,” a New York Asian tale of a down-on-his-luck chef who cooks up a scheme to marry off his ex-wife in an attempt to escape substantial alimony and child support obligations, before realizing that he wants a second chance. Featured actors include Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap, Yam Concepcion (“Nightshift”), […] → Read More
India Media Landscape Redrawn as Viacom18, Disney Carve up $6.2 Billion IPL Cricket Rights
Viacom18, a TV and streaming group backed by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has paid $3 billion to win an online auction for two packages of digital rights to Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket. It now has the leverage to change the Indian broadcasting landscape and to the tip the balance even further in favor of […] → Read More