Tim Robbins says he was inspired by some of the “questionable choices” made during the pandemic to take on his role in “Silo,” the upcoming Apple TV+ series about a post-apocalyptic world where society lives underground in deep silos. In the show, which also stars “Dune’s” Rebecca Ferguson, Robbins plays a leader of one of
L.A.-based Janek Ambros, founder of production and film financing company Assembly Line Entertainment, will receive the Auteur Filmmaker Award at Spain’s Roots of Europe (Raíces de Europa) festival, landing him in the company of such noteworthy cinematic auteurs as Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi alongside Spain’s Aitor López de Aberásturi and Juanma Bajo Ulloa, among others.
Paul Sng’s “Tish,” an intimate portrait of British documentary photographer Tish Murtha, will open the 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest on June 14. Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad will be the guest of honor. In his film, Sng – whose work includes “Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché” and “Dispossession” – both celebrates the vision and
Frédéric Corvez’s Paris-based Urban Sales has boarded “Pictures of Ghosts”, the latest film of renowned Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho (“Aquarius”, “Bacurau”). The movie, which marks Mendonça Filho’s fifth feature film, will world premiere at Cannes in the Special Screenings section. “Pictures of Ghosts” will mark the director’s third film to bow at Cannes, following
Indian streamer Sony LIV and production house Applause Entertainment have extended their existing partnership with two new series and renewals for four more. Among the new series, “36 Days,” produced in association with BBC Studios India is a suspense thriller, directed by Vishal Furia, featuring an ensemble cast including Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth,
DocuBay, the international documentary streaming service from India’s IN10 Media Network, has launched an original slate with six feature-length documentaries. “Monogamy Disrupted” and “Water Mafia” produced by Vice Studios India, delve into the lives of those who identify as polyamorous and the sinister effects of water mafia across socio-economic classes, respectively. “Bad Toys Inc.” developed
Warner Bros. Discovery and Viacom18 have revealed a multi-year agreement making JioCinema India’s new streaming home for HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros. content from May. The WBD content had previously been carried on the Disney-owned Star TV platform. But the deal with Star expired at the end of March. WBD sources have confirmed that,
Lucrecia Martel, whose films include “La Ciénaga,” “The Holy Girl” and “The Headless Woman,” has been celebrated as guest of honor at the 54th edition of international documentary film festival Visions du Réel, where organizers had to switch to a larger venue to accommodate the large, enthusiastic audience attending her masterclass. During the three-hour event
Internationally sourced programming and stories placed alongside local content could be a solution to bring audiences back to Indian cinemas, a high-powered panel debated. The panel was part of Indiantelevision.com’s annual industry event, The Content Hub, that recently concluded in Mumbai. Mayank Shroff, head of film distribution at Cinepolis, the Indian division of Latin American exhibition
Biopics about star athletes or artists tend to have the same broad shape: the rise to achievement and fame, the fall from triumph (often fueled by some combination of addiction and ego), the restoration to a harder-won glory. A great biopic, like “Get on Up” or “I, Tonya,” will tease a profound portrait of the
Don Lemon has been accused of many things, but being camera-shy is certainly not one of them. Days after the former star anchor was terminated by CNN, Lemon walked a red carpet Wednesday evening, telling press he’s ready for his new chapter. “I don’t have to rush to another job — even if I want
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9, episode 11 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired April 26 on Fox. Lou Diamond Phillips managed to do something few other “The Masked Singer” contestants have done: He shocked the show’s panel into silence. Phillips was the latest celebrity to be
Amid broad cost-cutting moves, Meta is shuttering the Facebook Watch originals group, whose small slate of shows included the hit “Red Table Talk” hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, Variety has confirmed. A Meta representative confirmed that the company is shuttering its originals group but declined to provide further comment. The news was first reported by
Break out the Windex! Audiences at CinemaCon were treated to the first-ever trailer for “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” the latest chapter in the romantic comedy series about culture clashes, true love, bundt cakes and the many, many uses for Windex. The third entry picks up years after the original and follows the Portokalos
Ethan Coen’s latest solo project just shifted into high gear, showing its first trailer at CinemaCon 2023. “Drive-Away Dolls,” a road movie about restless best friends and hapless crooks, is the latest from the co-director of modern classics “No Country for Old Men,” “Inside Llewyn Davis” and “Fargo.” During the Focus Features section of Universal’s
Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks will lead the voice cast of Universal and Illumination’s upcoming “Migration,” an animated adventure about a family of ducks on the go. “I find ducks so irresistible,” Illumination founder Chris Meledandri told the crowd at CinemaCon on Wednesday as he unveiled the compete voice cast for the original cartooned comedy.
Something magical is happening in Oz, and audiences are finally getting a glimpse of all the green and pink action. Universal brought the first-ever footage of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in the movie version of “Wicked” to CinemaCon, the annual movie theater owners convention in Las Vegas. Erivo and Grande
Negotiations on a new Writers Guild of America contract could go through the weekend, as the sides continue to trade proposals ahead of the Monday deadline. The WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and may hold a session on Saturday, according to a source close to the situation. Given the looming
Tucker Carlson has issued a statement following his exit from Fox News. In a video posted to Twitter on Wednesday, Carlson delivered a vague speech in which he spoke about what it’s been like to “step outside the noise” and how “true things prevail.” “One of the first things you realize when you step outside
New Filmmakers Los Angeles has unveiled the nominees and jury for its 11th annual awards that celebrate the work of independent filmmakers around the world. The kudos cover 16 award categories as well as an overall best new filmmaker prize. New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on nurturing up-and-coming talent
Will Ferrell brought out an adorable fluffy friend named Sophie to hawk his very R-rated new comedy, “Strays,” at CinemaCon on Wednesday. The comic actor and the border terrier teamed up to portray Reggie, a dog who is abandoned by his deadbeat owner (Will Forte). But Ferrell made it clear who has top billing. “My
Diners at Las Vegas’ many buffets may want to skip the split pea soup after a new trailer for “The Exorcist” shook the audience at Caesar’s Palace to its core on Wednesday. The rebooted franchise from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse debuted its first trailer to the annual convention of movie theater owners on Wednesday. The
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to “Carlos,” an expansive documentary about Latin American jazz fusion icon Carlos Santana, directed by Emmy winner Rudy Valdez (“The Sentence,” “We Are: The Brooklyn Saints”). “Rudy Valdez’s ‘Carlos’ showcases the genius behind the musical sensation that has led Carlos Santana’s music to resonate with global audiences across
Bob Odenkirk is trading Cinnabon for Italian beef, as the “Better Call Saul” star has joined Season 2 of FX’s delicious hit dramedy series “The Bear,” Variety has learned exclusively from sources. Character details for Odenkirk are being kept under wraps, but the actor is said to be boarding the show in a guest role.
Following the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and its pause on in-person programming, the dance music industry is back and better than ever. Data from the 2023 IMS Business Report demonstrates the resiliency of the global dance music industry, which grew by 34% in 2022 to reach a valuation of $11.3 billion — a
In the wake of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing examining on Ticketmaster’s powerful presence in the live-entertainment market, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Mn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.) today introduced legislation intended to improve competition in live event ticketing markets. Without naming the company, the announcement notes that “Today’s primary ticketing market is dominated by one
For 50 years, it’s been a safe place for storytellers – musicians, animators, directors, writers, artists of all kinds – to learn, grow and thrive. As CalArts celebrates its golden anniversary, it also faces the future head-on. Broad trustee emeritus Tim Disney, whose great-grandfather, Walt Disney, laid the foundation for what is now a world-class arts school,
Christopher Nolan took the stage at CinemaCon on Wednesday to unveil dramatic new footage from “Oppenheimer,” his sweeping look at the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who helped create the atomic bomb. Nolan, who has been a big advocate for the big screen and a critic of streaming, took the stage
The copyright case in which Ed Sheeran is being sued for allegedly lifting portions of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” for his own “Thinking Out Loud” took on some unexpected drama Wednesday afternoon when the plaintiff, Kathryn Townsend Griffin, collapsed and had to be carried out of court, causing an interruption in otherwise routine
Shiv’s the boss! On “Succession,” Sarah Snook plays the youngest Roy daughter Siobhan “Shiv” Roy, who isn’t sitting idly by while her newly minted co-CEO brothers run the media empire Waystar Royco — and neither is Snook with her Emmy chances. Variety has learned exclusively that Snook will be submitted into the lead drama actress