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India’s pop culture just got a bold new upgrade — say hello to The Mish Mash Podcast. It’s real, raw, and refreshingly unpredictable. Hosted by the effortlessly charming Manish Mishra, this no-rules, no-holds-barred show is designed for deep dives with India’s most colorful creators, artists, and outliers. And what a debut it is — featuring none other than the powerhouse of poetry and satire, Shambhu Shikhar.

If you’ve heard the iconic lines “Hum Dharti Putra Bihari Hai”, you’ve felt the fire this man brings to the stage. But who is the man behind the viral verses?

In this inaugural episode, Shambhu peels back the layers and gives us a rare glimpse into the journey that turned a small-town boy from Bihar into one of the most recognizable faces in the Kavi Sammelan circuit — and beyond. It’s a story of grit, grace, and good old-fashioned gumption.

From Mockery to Mastery

Growing up,...

On Sunday May 18 2025, Racer broadcasts MotorWeek!

2025 Honda Civic Hybrid; Si Season 44 Episode 36 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “MotorWeek,” titled “2025 Honda Civic Hybrid; Si,” promises to deliver an exciting look at two of Honda’s latest offerings. This episode will air on Racer and is sure to catch the attention of car enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike.

In this episode, the spotlight will be on the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid and the sporty Civic Si. The Honda Civic Hybrid is known for its fuel efficiency and eco-friendly features, making it a popular choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the Civic Si brings a sporty edge to the lineup, appealing to drivers who enjoy a more dynamic driving experience. The show will explore the unique features and performance capabilities of both models, highlighting what makes them stand out in the crowded compact car market.

Additionally, viewers will get...

Rbd’s Christian Chavez is baring it all. On Thursday, the Mexican pop star announced that he’ll release his solo EP, Sí, on May 6. In a handwritten note, he said the project is a “manifesto” of how he’s leading his life, years after being outed while a member of pop group Rbd.

“I covered my pain with laughter, living behind a mask. The race to chase the fortune of my dreams coming true pushed me to forget my essence,” he wrote in his note. “Romantic love only brought more destruction.

If Steven Yeun had decided to pursue law or medical science rather than acting, the cinematic world would have missed out on a gem of an actor. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yeun is an American actor who has delivered acclaimed performances in the popular television series The Walking Dead, Bong Joon-ho’s Okja, and Lee Chang-dong’s Burning. He is the first Asian American actor to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. In 2023, he starred in the dark comedy series Beef (2023), for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Most recently, he reunited with Bong Joon-ho for his latest sci-fi satire Mickey 17.

With such a list of great honors, it’s undoubted that Yeun is one of the best actors in the film industry. Apart from being a great actor, his script choice is also commendable. The actor discussed his Criterion favorites,...

No streaming service does a director retrospective like the Criterion Channel, and March offers two masters at opposite ends of exposure. On one side is Michael Mann, whose work from Thief through Collateral (minus The Keep) is given a spotlight; on the other is Alain Guiraudie, who (in advance of Misericordia opening on March 21) has five films arriving. (2001’s duet of That Old Dream That Moves and Sunshine for the Scoundrels have perhaps never streamed in the U.S. before.) Meanwhile, three noirs from Douglas Sirk are programmed alongside a Lee Chang-dong retrospective that features three new restorations.

Showcases will be staged for Dogme 95, Best Supporting Actor winners, and French Poetic Relaism. Welles’ The Trial gets a Criterion Edition alongside Demon Pond; Horace Ové’s newly restored Pressure makes a streaming premiere alongside spruced-up copies of Amadeus, Love Is the Devil, Port of Shadows, and Burning an Illusion, as...

EA and Respawn just took the Apex Legends community by storm when they revealed that big changes are coming, and it may be Apex Legends 2.0. It seems like Ubisoft is also joining the trend because there are new leaks saying that Rainbow Six Siege is about to also get a 2.0 update titled Rainbow Six Siege X.

Overwatch 2, CS2, and now Apex 2.0 and Siege X? | Image Credit: Respawn Entertainment

While there’s no official release date, multiple reports suggest Ubisoft is planning a Counter-Strike 2-style overhaul rather than a full-fledged sequel. With the game nearing its 10th anniversary we are very due for an upgrade so let’s see what the developers are cooking up. Will we get a new game engine, graphical improvements, free to play?

Rainbow Six Siege X may be the future for our favorite esport What kind of changes can we expect? | Image Credit: Ubisoft

Since its 2015 release,...

It was announced today that Chris and Rosie Ramsey’s hit podcast Sh**ged.Married.Annoyed. has joined Adelicious, the UK’s leading independent podcast network.

Produced by Avalon, the hugely popular and critically acclaimed podcast hosted by Chris and Rosie Ramsey has become one of the most loved podcasts in the UK. With over 300 episodes recorded and 195 million downloads, the podcast has continually held spots in the top five podcasts in the UK since the Edison Research chart launched two years ago. The podcast has also spawned two record-breaking live arena tours, a Sunday Times №1 bestselling book, two series of an acclaimed BBC chat show, and, last autumn, a new children’s book which went on to become an instant bestseller. The show has also picked up multiple awards including back-to-back National Comedy Awards for Best Podcast (2023 and 2022), a Global Award for Best Podcast and the Listeners' Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards.

Kq Entertainment responds with a firm “no comment” regarding rumours about Ateez’s Hongjoong and Bang Si Hyuk. Xmag UK Xmag Editorial

Kq Entertainment avoids clarifying rumours linking Ateez’s Hongjoong’s lyrics with indirect references to Bang Si Hyuk. Kq Entertainment…

The post Kq Entertainment responds with a firm “no comment” regarding rumours about Ateez’s Hongjoong and Bang Si Hyuk. first appeared on Xmag UK.

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Brianna “Chickenfry” Lapaglia’s memorable name is one that you might not have been familiar with until last year.

The Barstool Sports personality has long enjoyed a huge following on social media, but she reached a new level of fame in 2024 thanks to increased scrutiny of her personal life.

In a sad turn of events, Brianna got dumped by Zach Bryan after just over a year of dating.

And to hear Ms. Chickenry tell it, the country star was not nice about it when he cut her loose.

Zach Bryan and Brianna Lapaglia attend the 66th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) Brianna Lapaglia’s Painful Year

In fact, she claims that Byran blindsided her in brutal fashion.

“I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up, and I...

Michael B. Jordan is armed and ready for action in a new image from director Ryan Coogler's Sinners. Jordan leads the Sinners cast in dual-roles as twin brothers Elijah and Elias Smoke, with Hailee Steinfeld and Jack O'Connell also starring. As was teased in the first trailer, the movie follows Elijah and Elias as they return to their hometown, only to find themselves facing off against a terrifying evil. It has been theorized that this evil is vampires, but no such creature has actually been shown in any marketing materials, keeping the threat shrouded in mystery.

A new 2025 movie preview from USA Today includes a new image from Sinners, and several clues in the image reinforce the idea that Jordan will be facing off against vampires. The image features Jordan holding a sharpened wooden stick and a pistol while covered in blood, and wooden stakes are, according to folklore,...

What’s New on Netflix in November 2024: Must-Watch Shows and Movies! ( Photo Credit – Netflix )

Here is a list of all the shows and films released on Netflix in November 2024, which will help you organize your binge-watch plans.

Netflix will add several movies and television shows to its catalog in November 2024. The platform always amazes us with its massive collection of original content and licensed programming.

The streaming giant has much to offer in the upcoming month as several original series, reality shows, movies, documentaries, and animated shows are being released on the platform. Here is a comprehensive list of all the programs that will be dropped on Netflix in November 2024.

Trending Moana 2 Box Office: Sets New Record Ahead Of Its Release, Surpasses Inside Out 2 In Ticket Sales Smile 2: Unmasking the Real-Life Singer Who Inspired Skye Riley’s Character! All Shows and Films Being Released on Netflix in November...

Gayle King took plenty of risks in her career and life to get where she is today, but admits one opportunity she received felt like she was “being punked.”

Earlier this month, she took a risk by eating a half-eaten slice of pie she received via delivery at her residence, which had fans concerned about her health.

The intriguing mystery about the pie slice appeared in multiple segments on CBS Mornings, which Gayle co-anchors and co-hosts on weekdays.

More recently, she opened up about another significant risk she took months ago, which other women called “brave” of her.

This week, she attended the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program luncheon, which supports women filmmakers.

During the event, Gayle participated in a People interview and spoke about accepting the offer to appear on a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover.

Gayle King thought she was ‘being punked’ by magazine

In May,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Crossing (Levan Akin)

There’s no description of Levan Akin’s Crossing that won’t make it sound like the kind of feel-good dramedy which would have taken Sundance by storm in 2006. It has all the key ingredients: an inter-generational friendship forged between a curmudgeonly retired teacher and a young burnout desperate to escape his hometown; an epic road trip where they come to understand each other more; and the older of the two confronting her internal bigotry as they search for her transgender niece. Above all, any description makes this sound like the worst kind of LGBTQ story, which we finally seem to have moved past as a culture––the story of queer people aimed firmly at a straight audience. It...

Langston Kerman convinced his mother-in-law to put him in charge of her dating apps — bad news for her prospective suitors but good news for comedy. Kerman leads off his new Netflix special, Bad Poetry, by not only explaining how he’s seducing men on an elderly woman’s behalf but by playing their lovelorn audio messages as well.

An invasion of privacy? Elder abuse? Sure, that’s why it’s fun. And it’s what makes Kerman so interesting as a stand-up — he’s believable as the guy to whom you’d entrust your romantic future. Yet he’s enough of an impish a-hole that you’re not surprised when he publicly embarrasses the dopes with their clumsy messages of love.

In that way, he’s not unlike John Mulaney, a comic who intuitively seems like a good dude even while he insists he’s a borderline criminal. Mulaney is...

Volume Global, in association with Navajo Entertainment, Claxson Media, Fun Republic Pictures, Karma Film, Julijette, Palatin Media and Washington Square Entertainment, presented the highly anticipated adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime to an enthusiastic crowd at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The panel, titled ‘Jonathan Frakes unveils ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ TV series,’ took place on Thursday, July 25th, at the San Diego Convention Center as part of Comic-Con International’s 2024 lineup.

Moderated by Comic-Con mainstay and legend Gary Miereanu, the panel featured special virtual appearances from director and Executive Producer Jonathan Frakes, and Executive Producer Lucas Vivo Garcia Lagos, while the Emmy-nominated Co-Showrunners David Cormican and Dwayne Hill, shared the stage with Miereanu along with fellow Executive Producer and Volume Global’s Michael Hamilton Wright.

Fans of the bestselling book franchise were treated to an in-depth discussion about the upcoming TV series adaptation based on the...

It's almost time to welcome the My Deer Friend Nokotan anime to the Summer 2024 anime season! The series from Wit Studio begins on July 7, but the creditless versions of the opening and ending videos have already made their way online. The opening song is “Shikairo Days” from the Deer Club, which is made up of the voices actors for the in-series chaotic school club. The ending song has Megumi Han and Saki Fujita performing “Shika-senbei no Uta” in character as Shikanoko Noko and Koshi Torako. My Deer Friend Nokotan Creditless Opening My Deer Friend Nokotan Creditless Ending Related: My Deer Friend Nokotan Anime Character Trailer Highlights Anko Based on the manga by Oshioshio, Masahiko Ota directs My Deer Friend Nokotan at Wit Studio, with Takashi Aoshima on series composition, Ayumu Tsujimura on character designs and Yasuhiro Misawa ( Hinamatsuri ) on music. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes an official English version of...

Mariette Rissenbeek, producer and outgoing Berlinale executive director, is advising on a new $5m Luxembourg-based fund to support underrepresented voices in cinema, initially with a Mena orientation.

The Poetry in Motion Fund: Independent voices of Cinema is the brainchild of women’s rights activist Fedra Fateh, instigator of The Woman Life Freedom Project in Cannes and deputy director of the Torino Film Festival.

“We want to do things differently but at a very high level,” she said. ”We want to fill the gaps that are not being met by traditional funders and the film commissions. We want to advance social...

Bands already spend an inordinate amount of time touring, so when I ask the Chicago indie-rock trio Dehd why they decided to turn the writing sessions for their new album into a road trip, guitarist-singer Jason Balla admits, “It’s a bit masochistic.”

Nights spent shivering under piles of blankets in the dead-of-winter desert cold in Taos, New Mexico; an avalanche blocking the roads on the way to Bainbridge, Washington; a 15-seat Chevy Express traversing the mountains of Montana in a blizzard, Buck Meek’s “Candle” blasting on repeat, making...

Lee Chang-dong set Cannes ablaze in 2018 with the uneasily beautiful “Burning,” a loose Haruki Murakami adaptation about the folie à troix between an alienated delivery man (Ah-in Yoo), the wily young woman (Jong-seo Jun) he covets, and the handsome charisma machine who blows them apart. The South Korean director’s sixth film made history as Korea’s first to make the International Feature Oscar shortlist (it wasn’t nominated) but is perhaps best remembered for two scenes: the woman, Haemi (Jun), dancing topless for them to the tune of Miles Davis’ “Elevator to the Gallows” soundtrack, and for its abruptly violent ending involving murder and arson in the nude. Then, there’s a missing cat that may have never existed — pure Murakami.

“Burning” remains a new classic of the 2010s, an elusive portrait of loneliness and desire that never spills on its narrative secrets. It grossed an impressive $718,000 at the U.

This month, Metrograph is running “Novel Encounters: The Films of Lee Chang-dong,” a retrospective of the filmmaker’s career to date. The program includes four films in new 4K restorations from Film Movement: Green Fish, Peppermint Candy, Oasis, and Poetry.

Lee’s debut, Green Fish, particularly benefits from restoration, considering it was previously quite hard to find outside Internet back-channels ever since its low-quality DVD went out-of-print some years ago. The film, an impressive debut, more fully brings into light Lee’s career-long preoccupations––how a character is impacted by anger and isolation, the dichotomy between rural and urban landscapes, and their particular socio-political context.

Lee’s work can be cleaved into two parts: the first three films and the next three films. Not only is there an important shift, following Oasis, from male protagonists to female protagonists, but also a gravitation towards a more ephemeral subject matter and ambiguous mode of storytelling.

New York's Metrograph Theater is proud to announce the details of Novel Encounters: the Films of Lee Chang-dong, their upcoming retrospective headlined by the New York Premieres of four new 4K restorations of Lee Chang-dong's directorial works; Green Fish (1997), Peppermint Candy (1999), Oasis (2002), and Poetry (2010). The series begins April 5th and also includes Lee's critically acclaimed Burning, South Korea's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, and his 2007 Cannes Award-Winning Secret Sunshine, alongside a filmmaker-curated duo of his most celebrated and valued writing and producing efforts: Ouni Lecomte's A Brand New Life and July Jung's A Girl at My Door. Each restoration title, which are being released by Film Movement Classics in North America, will have a week-long run at the esteemed Lower East Side repertory and first-run cinema, marking their US Theatrical Premieres.

Poetry

Filmmaker, playwright, and novelist, Lee Chang-dong has been a vital force...

At the end of last year we learned that Film Movement picked up four new 4K restorations of the films of Lee Chang-dong: Green Fish (1997), Peppermint Candy (1999), Oasis (2002), and Poetry (2010). Now today finally brings news of when we’ll be able to see them. New York City’s Metrograph Theater announced their retrospective Novel Encounters: the Films of Lee Chang-dong, taking place April 5-27, featuring the four aforementioned restorations as well as Burning, Secret Sunshine, and Ouni Lecomte’s A Brand New Life (which Lee co-wrote) and July Jung’s A Girl at My Door (which Lee produced).

“We are thrilled to present a retrospective of Lee Chang-dong’s outstanding body of work, celebrating him as one of the most esteemed auteurs in contemporary cinema,” said Metrograph’s Director of Programming Inge de Leeuw. “Each film in this retrospective delves into the profound complexities of the human condition. As big admirers of his filmmaking,...

South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong is getting his flowers stateside, thanks to a retrospective exhibit curated by New York’s Metrograph Theater. Titled “Novel Encounters: the Films of Lee Chang-dong,” the upcoming program is headlined by the New York premieres of four new 4K restorations of Lee’s directorial works, including “Green Fish” (1997), “Peppermint Candy” (1999), “Oasis” (2002), and “Poetry” (2010). “Novel Encounters” runs from April 5 through 27.

“We are thrilled to present a retrospective of Lee Chang-dong’s outstanding body of work, celebrating him as one of the most esteemed auteurs in contemporary cinema,” Metrograph’s Director of Programming Inge de Leeuw said. “Each film in this retrospective delves into the profound complexities of the human condition. As big admirers of his filmmaking, we are delighted to bring his compassionate films to the big screen and we are proud to work with the North American distributor Film Movement to present the restored versions...

Now that everyone's finally stopped gushing about season 1, the sophomore season of "Squid Game" is (hopefully) almost here. The horror-tinged dystopian thriller about a group of participants tricked into playing deadly versions of childhood games debuted back in 2021 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Originally planned as a limited series, the wild success of "Squid Game" led to its season 2 renewal, and it took some time to pull together a continuation of the story.

Will lightning strike twice for "Squid Game," or is it a premise that's about played out? We won't know until we see more of season 2, but everything we do know indicates that the show will be even more ambitious in its second outing. Season 1 exposed the corruption and greed behind the killer gameplay, but season 2 seems poised to dig deeper into the systems that enable the games as winner Gi-hun continues to be impacted by the...

Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat receives Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

A raft of star actors and directors from across Asia helped open the 28th Busan International Film Festival tonight (October 4), led by Hong Kong film icon Chow Yun-fat.

The acclaimed star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Killer took to the stage at the festival in South Korea to accept the honorary Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

Speaking to a packed audience at the outdoor theatre of the Busan Cinema Center, Chow said: “It’s been exactly 50 years since I started my career as an actor.

“I hope we can communicate and reconcile again,” said Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon on the opening night of the South Korean city’s film festival.

With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.

Mid-year, the festival’s aging senior management had a self-inflicted meltdown (a senior moment?) when chairman and co-founder Lee Yong-kwan set off a chain of events that caused multiple resignations, highlighting the old city-versus-festival political divide and alienating local sponsors and industry guilds.

This was dirty laundry that Busan should have washed out of its system in the years-long aftermath of the 2014 “The...

If you are not familiar with James Benning, you may regard the 80-year-old American filmmaker's latest experimental and structuralist piece as nothing more than a surface level showcase into the modern phenomenon known as liminal space. Most of the exterior shots featured throughout Allensworth provide a simplistic, stretched out rural landscape with an eerie, dreamlike atmosphere that is coddled within. In all reality though, a much harsher but memorable message lies in wait for those who decide to go on this visual journey.

Creating 25 feature length films within a 40-year career thus far that include similarly made pictures like The United States of America and Maggie’s Farm, Benning once again wields a magnificent power through the cinematic style of a still shot in his newest release. Mysterious and slow yet unnerving and maddening all at the same time, he puts together 12 sections (that are five minutes each and coincide...

The festival will open with ‘Because I Hate Korea’ and close with ‘The Movie Emperor’.

The Busan International Film Festival has revealed the full line-up for its 2023 edition and announced that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

The festival in South Korea will open with the world premiere of Jang Kun-jae’s Because I Hate Korea and close with Ning Hao’s Chinese film industry satire The Movie Emperor, starring Andy Lau, following its debut at Toronto.

At an online press conference today, organisers also revealed that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat...

The Busan International Film Festival put aside many of its recent internal and local political problems to Tuesday unveil a large selection ranging from bleeding edge art titles to international festival favorites.

“The difficult times are not behind us, but hard work has made this year’s festival better than ever,” said programmer and interim festival chief Nam Dong-chul, speaking at an online press conference.

International guests expected to attend the festival include Luc Besson, Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing, Japanese directors Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and Korean Americans Justin Chon (“Gook”) and Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”).

Hong Kong-based superstar Chow Yun-fat has been named as Busan’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year and will be in person to receive the award. The Korean Cinema Award will presented to the late Yun Jung-hee, the actress who starred in “The General’s Mustache” and Lee Chang-dong’s 2010 drama “Poetry.

“Mist” (Angae) or the Foggy Town is a South Korean film directed by the prolific filmmaker Kim Soo-Yong in 1967, inspired by the novel “Record of a Journey to Mujin” (무진기행) by novelist Kim Seung-ok. In 1968, “Mist” won the award for Best Director at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. This work undoubtedly stands as one of the most emblematic movies of Korean cinema's golden age (1955 to 1972). The historical backdrop in which this entire era of exploration is situated is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the works themselves.

Mist is screening at Film At Lincoln Center, as part of the Korean Cinema's Golden Decade: The 1960s program

The story follows Yun Gi-jun – portrayed by the legendary actor Shin Seong-il – a rich married businessman based in Seoul. Alienated and stressed by his job position, the protagonist decides to return to his hometown, Mujin, to visit the grave of his mother. There, he...

Warning: Brzrkr: Poetry of Madness is a Mature comic

Keanu Reeves teams up with writer and artist Steve Skorce to deliver a visually-fantastic and thematically-relevant fantasy comic in Brzrkr: Poetry of Madness. The comic subverts classic fantasy tropes by exploring the inherent flaws in the concept of the violent, invincible hero who exploits the people's love of violence rather than saving them. Despite being a flawed and short-sighted character, B. represents the complex nature of the flawed, brooding antiheroic ideal prevalent in action/adventure stories.

In a dark fantasy dream match, Keanu Reeves casts himself as a sword-and-sorcery-style demigod for Brzrkr: Poetry of Madness, featuring the return of the impassive, immortal warrior B. in all his glory. If that premise doesn’t already sound like gold on paper, it gets better: the team of Reeves, co-writer and artist Steve Skorce, and colorist Dave Stewart deliver on this score, throwing...

Reliably one of the most euphoric and rewarding events on the circuit, the New York Asian Film Festival emerged at a time when hardcore cinephiles were forced to import prohibitively expensive foreign-region DVDs if they wanted to watch the latest hits from the other side of the world, and the first editions of the fest — then hosted at the Anthology Film Archives — got a major boost by screening hard-to-find cult objects and/or future classics at a time when Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean cinema were all on the rise to one degree or another.

No disrespect to the prestigious New York Film Festival, but Nyaff beat them to the punch when it comes to major auteurs like Park Chan-wook, whose “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” screened at the 2002 event alongside millennial breakouts like Corey Yuen’s “So Close,” unheralded pop masterpieces like Fumihiko Sori’s “Ping Pong,” and what the fuck did I just witness?...

In the five years since Burning, South Korean master Lee Chang-dong has yet to announce a new project, but considering it was nearly a decade between his prior film Poetry and his Haruki Murakami adaptation, it will likely be another few years until we hear an update. In the meantime, he’s penned a new short story which is now available to read courtesy of The New Yorker.

Titled “Snowy Day” and translated from Korean by Heinz Insu Fenkl and Yoosup Chang, the story depicts military duty in Korea and the nuances of the divide between a private and a corporal, along with bookends featuring a woman visiting the private at the remote base. With a setting detailed in characteristically evocatively fashion, describing the bleak atmosphere at the desolate border, passages recall Park Chan-wook’s 2000 thriller Joint Security Area. As for whether we may see him adapt the story into the cinematic form,...

When the history books are written to include modern world cinema, one name that is sure to be mentioned as a titan not just of Korean or Asian cinema, but cinema in general, will undoubtedly be that of South Korean maestro Lee Chang-dong. In a career spanning more than 25 years now, starting in the early days of the Korean New Wave all the way till the modern day, Lee has made a mere six feature films, almost all of which are generally considered among the finest. In their 2022 edition, the Jeonju International Film Festival held a retrospective of the celebrated director’s works, which included 4k remastered versions of all of Lee’s feature films, along with the world premieres of his new short “Heartbeat” and “Lee Chang-dong: The Art of Irony”, a new retrospective documentary by French director Alain Mazars.

Much like Lee’s breakthrough sophomore work “Peppermint Candy...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Throne of Blood" (1957)

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: A warrior returning from battle is told by a mysterious supernatural entity he is destined to rule the realm he defends, leading him down a dark path of betrayal and murder from which there is no escape. Instead of Scottish general Macbeth, the doomed warrior is Taketoki Washizu (Toshiro Mifune), a samurai commander who serves Kuniharu Tsuzuki (Takamaru Sasaki), the current lord of Spider's Web Forest Castle in feudal Japan. And instead of a trio of witches, the supernatural entity is a shape-shifting spirit (Chieko Naniwa) who dwells deep in the labyrinth of tangled tree branches, hidden paths, and fog that is Spider's Web Forest.

Despite these and other changes,...

Audre Lorde Way at East 68th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Audre Lorde, poet (New York State Poet Laureate 1991-92), activist, educator, feminist, and the subject of Dagmar Schultz’s up-close and personal documentary Audre Lorde: The Berlin Years 1984-1992, was honoured on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in an Audre Lorde Way street naming celebration at the corner of East 68th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City. The Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse of Hunter College and Hunter West are now on Audre Lorde Way.

Hunter College President Jennifer J Raab, Blanche Wiesen Cook, Clare Coss, Jacqueline Woodson and Jacqueline Nassy Brown Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Hunter College President Jennifer J Raab, Blanche Wiesen Cook (historian and professor), Clare Coss (Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry), author Jacqueline Woodson, Hunter professors Jacqueline Nassy Brown and Melinda Goodman, NYC Council Member Keith Powers, the 2022 Roosevelt House Eva Kasten Grove scholars,...

stills: stitch of Green Fish-Peppermint Candy-Oasis-Secret Sunshine-Poetry-Burning

The 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival will hold a retrospective program on director Lee Chang-dong called “Lee Chang-dong: The Truth of the Invisible.”

The 23rd Jeonju Iff is preparing thoroughly under strict Covid-19 regulations with the slogan “Film Goes On,” and has made a big announcement domestic and international film fans will cheer for. Leading Korean director Lee Chang-dong will be spotlighted with a retrospective programming at the festival called “Lee Chang-dong: The Truth of the Invisible.”

Through “Lee Chang-dong: The Truth of the Invisible,” the director’s most loved films from the last 20 years as well as Heartbeat, his newest short film, will be presented to the audience for the first time in the world. Heartbeat is Lee’s newest film in 4 years, and it made headlines due to the participation of Who in the production. In addition,...

Festival

Seven of the nine features selected for the Korean competition at the Jeonju International Film Festival (Apr. 28-May 7) are directed by women. The selected films are “Mother And Daughter” by Kim Jung-eun; “When I Sleep” (Choi Jungmoon); “The Hill of Secrets” (Lee Ji-eun); “Archaeology of Love” (Lee Wanmin); “Missing Yoon” (Kim Jinhwa); “Saving a Dragonfly” (Hong Daye); “Jeong-sun” (Jeong Ji-hye); “Drown” (Lim Sangsu); and “Havana” (Hong Yongho).

Programmer Moon Seok said: “This year’s submissions were diverse in subject matter, and there were many new attempts in genres. Seven of the nine selected works are by female directors, and they continue to be strong players in the industry. I hope this trend will continue, and to have female directors make strides in the commercial film industry too.”

Meanwhile, the festival, which is led by director Lee Joondong, is planning an in-person event under strict Covid-19 regulations and will hold...

“Gotham” star Ben McKenzie and “Instinct” actress Bojana Novakovic are attached to star in the new J-horror film “Bloat,” Variety can reveal.

Produced by Bazelevs, the production banner of Screenlife pioneer Timur Bekmambetov, “Bloat” is a co-production with Russian streaming platform Okko, French production and sales house Pulsar Content (“The Deep House”), and Japanese production company flag Co., Ltd.

Filming has already started in New York and will continue in Japan. Pic marks the first time Okko has co-financed an international production. Pulsar Content will handle international sales and is launching pre-sales at the European Film Market.

“Bloat” stars McKenzie as a military officer stationed in Turkey while his wife (Novakovic) is vacationing in Japan with their kids. During the stay, their younger son almost drowns in a lake. Soon after the accident, the parents realize that something is wrong with their boy.

McKenzie’s critically acclaimed roles include the...

The Sundance Institute, the nonprofit arm of the organization that puts on the annual Sundance Film Festival, has announced the recipients of its 2021 Women at Sundance Adobe Fellowship.

The annual program will spotlight eight artists working across disciplines, and was designed to support women doing bold work in film and media. The fellowship prioritizes filmmakers from underrepresented communities.

“We’re excited to announce our new group of cross-disciplinary artists, supporting storytellers working in documentary, fiction and episodic formats. This year-long fellowship will provide bespoke professional and creative development designed to advance their singular projects and burgeoning careers,” said Michelle Satter, founding senior director of artist programs at the institute.

The fellowship offers a year of mentorship from the Sundance Institute and Adobe executives, as well as workshops, coaching, a $6,250 cash grant and a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Fellows will also receive introductions to industry contacts and advisers, referrals...

The Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa) announced today the nominees of the 15th Asian Film Awards (AFA15).

China’s “One Second”, South Korea’s “The Book of Fish”, India’s “The Disciple”, and two Japanese films, “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and “Wife of a Spy” are competing for this year’s “Best Film Award.”

World renowned directors, Zhang Yimou, Lee Joon-ik, Kurosawa Kiyoshi and internationally acclaimed Hamaguchi Ryusuke, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov are in a tight race for “Best Director.”

In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan, South Korea for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the awards will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival on 8 October 2021 (Friday). The ceremony will commence in a hybrid form, which combines on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.

The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker, Lee Chang-dong...

The Academy (Afaa) revealed the nominees for the 15th Asian Film Awards today. Thirty-six films from eight Asian regions will compete for 16 awards. China’s One Second, South Korea’s The Book of Fish, India’s The Disciple, and two Japanese films, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Wife of a Spy, compete for this year’s “Best Film Award.”

Three Hong Kong films were nominated for this year’s Afa, including Drifting, directed by Jun Li, nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Limbo, directed by Cheang Pou-soi, was nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best sound; Adam Wong’s The Way We Keep Dancing was nominated for Best Original Music.

The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be this year’s Jury President. Lee was the lifetime award recipient at the 13th Asian Film Awards.He won the “Best...

China’s “One Second,” South Korea’s “The Book of Fish,” India’s “The Disciple,” and two Japanese films, “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” and “Wife of a Spy” will compete for this year’s best film prize at the Asian Film Awards

The awards again will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival. The ceremony, on Oct. 8, 2021, will operate in a hybrid form combining on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.

In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. In previous years, the ceremony was held in Hong Kong and Macau.

Those nominated for best director included Zhang Yimou (for “One Second”), Lee Joon-ik (for “The Book of Fish”), Hamaguchi Ryusuke (for “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”), Kurosawa Kiyoshi (for “Wife of a Spy”) and Kazakhstan’s Adilkhan Yerzhanov (for “Yellow Cat”).

Mainland Chinese thriller “Cliff Walkers,...

Common has announced A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2, the follow-up album to 2020’s A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1. The album is is available for preorder now ahead of its September 10th release date.

“A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2 was created with hope and inspiration in mind,” Common said in a statement. “The spirit of the album was meant to emulate what a greater day would sound and feel like. We were in the midst of some tough political and socially challenging times. There was still hurt, anger and pain lingering, so I was thinking,...

Turning Red Trailer — Domee Shi‘s Turning Red (2022) movie trailer has been released by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. The Turning Red trailer stars Rosalie Chiang and Sandra Oh. Crew Domee Shi wrote the screenplay for the Turning Red. Ludwig Göransson created the music for the film. Rona Liu oversaw the production design on [...]

Continue reading: Turning Red (2022) Teaser Trailer: Sandra Oh & Rosalie Chiang star in Disney’s Film About a Girl that Turns into a Panda...

There is far more to the plot of Lee Chang-dong’s “Oasis” than initially meets the eye. The opening hour of the movie appears to be a rather bland and generic take on a melodrama with an unlikely match, between an ex-con Hong Jong-du (Sol Kyung-du) and Han Gong-du (Moon So-ri), who suffers from cerebral palsy. Fortunately, the romantic plot is later nuanced by a more layered focus on social issues and tensions within the families of both of the main characters.

We meet Jong-du a mere couple of hours after his release from a prison. He did time for killing a man in a hit-and-run, but shows lack of remorse for the deed. His comeback isn’t welcome by the family. A sister-in-law admits to him bluntly: “with you out of the way I felt good about life”. With no money in his pocket, lack of...

This year, the motion picture academy achieved its five-year goal of doubling the number of women among its membership. In all, 819 film professionals were invited to become part of the organization that hands out the Oscars. Compare this intake to the totals of the previous five years: 842 in 2019; a record 928 in 2018; 774 in 2017; 683 in 2016; 322 in 2015; and 271 in 2014.

While Academy Awards nominees are automatically eligible for consideration, the rest of the candidates must go through a fairly cumbersome process. A candidate must meet certain branch specific requirements before even being eligible.

For example, actors must “have a minimum of three theatrical feature film credits, in all of which the roles played were scripted roles, one of which was released in the past five years, and all of which are of a caliber that reflect the high standards of the Academy.” For writers, directors and producers they need have just two of these credits.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 819 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.

The 2020 class is 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% international from 68 countries. There are 75 Oscar® nominees, including 15 winners, and five recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2020.

“The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travelers in the motion picture arts and sciences. We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now,” said Academy President David Rubin.

In 2016, the Academy set specific inclusion goals as part of its A2020 initiative to double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities by 2020. Through dedicated and intentional work by the Board of...

Awkwafina, Kaitlyn Dever, Cynthia Erivo, Beanie Feldstein, Brian Tyree Henry, Niecy Nash, Florence Pugh, Lakeith Stanfield, Olivia Wilde and John David Washington are among the 819 film professionals who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy announced on Tuesday.

Additional invitations went to directors Ari Aster, Mati Diop, Robert Eggers, Ladj Ly and Lulu Wang; to documentary filmmakers David France and Jeff Reichert; to executives Jennifer Salke and Teddy Schwarzman; to musicians and composers Larry Mullen Jr., Max Richter, Arturo Sandoval and Bernie Taupin; to producers Ryan Murphy and Rosalie Swedlin; and to writers Lucy Alibar, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth.

A dozen different people from the Best Picture winner “Parasite” were invited to join: actors Choi Woo-Shik, Jang Hye-Jin, Jo Yeo-Jeong. Lee Jung-Eun and Park So-Dam, costume designer Choi Seyeon, editor Yang Jinmo, composer Jung Jae-Il, producer Kwak Sin-Ae, production designer Lee Ha Jun,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 819 artists and executives to join the organization in 2020.

In doing so, the Academy continues its work on diversifying its ranks. If all 819 invitees accept their invitations, 45% of the new members will be women and 36% are from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities. International make-up is 49% from 68 countries.

“The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travelers in the motion picture arts and sciences. We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now,” said Academy president David Rubin said in a statement.

In 2016, as part of its A2020 initiative, the Academy promised to at least double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities by this year. “Through dedicated and intentional work by the Board of Governors and members on the branch executive committees, the Academy has surpassed both these goals,...