News

British financier Goldfinch and global entertainment company Friday Industries have teamed to launch a $20 million collateralized credit vehicle aimed at backing film and high-end television productions across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.

The initiative, unveiled at the Cannes Film Market, operates under the Goldfinch International banner, and drops at a time when these regions are experiencing explosive growth in content production but still face significant financing hurdles.

The fund will provide senior secured loans against tax credits, government incentives, gap financing and pre-sales for productions from territories including the U.A.E., Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Goldfinch has previously deployed nearly $300 million across more than 300 projects since 2014, delivering annual IRRs (Internal Rate of Return) of 11-13%.

“This is a timely moment for international financing to support a wave of bold new storytelling from regions that have long been underserved,...

Exclusive:New York-based producer-financier Closer Media, in Cannes with Oliver Hermanus’s Palme d’Or contender The History Of Sound and Raoul Peck’s Premiere selection Orwell: 2+2=5, is meeting potential partners on the Croisette to assemble a slate fuelled by global auteurs.

Targeting an annual output of three to five films, founder and Chinese real estate billionaire Zhang Xin and president Jonathan King aim to go into production later this year on projects from Tom McCarthy, with whom King made Spotlight while at Participant, and Joseph Cedar, the Israeli filmmaker behind Beaufort and Footnote.

“We want to make more films,...

Est N8, the international sales, production, and finance company, has acquired “Family Secrets,” a Korean family drama directed by Lee Sang-hoon (“Windmill”), at Hong Kong FilMart.

The film tells the story of an average Korean family whose members begin leading secret lives unknown to each other. The eldest daughter Mina, for instance, skips her piano lessons to take self-defense classes. The narrative reveals these new pursuits are connected to promises made to their deceased family member Seung-hyun, who perished in the tragic Sewol ferry incident.

“Family Secrets” takes a distinctive approach to the Sewol Ferry disaster, focusing on hope rather than sorrow. “The Sewol ferry victims’ families try not to talk about the Sewol ferry disaster, but rather to talk about the good and happy stories,” director Lee Sang-hoon said. “Since they know how much pain they each are feeling, they comfort and encourage each other with hopeful communication during...

Thai production outfit Night Edge Pictures has locked in its lead cast for the upcoming horror-thriller “Delivery Man,” with Bhumibhat Thavornsiri, Plearnpichaya Komalarajun, and Ananda Everingham joining the project, it was unveiled during Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM).

The deal was orchestrated by U.S.-Thai film global sales, production, and finance company Est N8’s team of Tenten Wei, Sophie Shi, and Cathy Ni, adding to their growing slate of Asian content which includes MD Pictures’ “Sorop,” December’s box office leader “Hutang Nyawa,” and the Fantasia best director award-winning Korean action film “Mash Ville.”

“Delivery Man,” which blends Korean cinema’s suspenseful pacing with Thailand’s signature storytelling approach, delves into the dark underbelly of stalker culture. The project comes from the directing duo Ornusa Donsawai and Pun Homchuen, who co-wrote the script with Kongkiat Komesiri.

Thavornsiri (known as Aim) takes the lead as Guy, a socially...

Photo by Giles Keyte, Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

After a somewhat slow start both critically and commercially, Inside Out 2 marked a real turning point in the moviegoing year as films finally began to hit their stride and moviegoers returned to cinemas for more magic.

In financial terms, the 2024 global box office is estimated at $30 billion, or seven percent behind 2023’s figures. That small downturn is due in part to the labour disputes in Hollywood back in 2023 — the important work of the Writers Guild of America strike and SAG-AFTRA strike — which postponed or halted a number of films and ultimately altered studio plans for 2024. It was another major recovery year at the global box office nonetheless, with significant increases over previous recovery years.

On the theatrical exhibition front, Sony Pictures became the first studio to purchase a cinema chain in 75 years, following the expiration of the infamous Paramount...

The Chinese billionaire real estate mogul Zhang Xin has made an undisclosed investment in arthouse distributor and global streamer Mubi through her New York film company Closer Media, Mubi said Friday. Zhang will also take a seat on Mubi’s board of directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Zhang Xin to our board of directors,” said Mubi founder and CEO Efe Cakarel. “She is an exceptional leader who has built an incredible company from the ground up, demonstrating unparalleled vision and resilience. I deeply admire her, and I personally look forward to learning from her expertise, strategic insight, and entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to grow and innovate.”

After making her fortune, and reshaping the Beijing and Shanghai skyline with real estate group Soho China, which she co-founded with her husband, Pan Shiyi, Zhang shifted gears in 2022, stepping down as Soho CEO and launching Manhattan-based film production and financing group Closer Media.

Global sales, production, and finance company Est N8 has acquired “Hutang Nyawa,” an Indonesian horror film due to release Dec. 12. The acquisition was made during the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (Jaff).

Directed by Billy Christian, a filmmaker with over a decade of horror films under his belt, “Hutang Nyawa” tells the story of Erwina, the youngest member of a family who is sent to work in an old factory. She soon discovers she has been offered as a sacrifice to settle her family’s dark debt to the devil. Christian’s recent project “Motel Melati’ competed at the Sitges Film Festival.

The film stars Taskya Namya, known for Netflix’s action film “The Shadow Strays” and the horror film “Suzzana,” alongside Rachel Vennya, a social media influencer making her acting debut in this genre. It is produced by Visinema Pictures, the studio behind hits like “Filosofi Kopi” and “Keluarga Cemara.

Lion And Cubs

Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was recently in Locarno for a celebration, has teamed up with his sons Aryan Khan and AbRam as the voice cast of the Hindi-language version of Disney’s upcoming feature film “Mufasa: The Lion.”

The film is directed by Barry Jenkins and tells the story of the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, while also introducing an orphaned cub called Mufasa, a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline—and their expansive journey alongside an extraordinary group of misfits. The film has original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and an English voice cast of Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Donald Glover as Simba and Braelyn Rankins as Young Mufasa.

The film will reach Indian theatres on Dec.20 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions.

Watch the trailer here:

Format Duo

Nippon TV has finalized a deal...

A drama about an Iranian human rights activist and a documentary about the hacking of queer indie pop duo Tegan and Sara are among the films that have been added to the lineup of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which unveiled its Centrepiece section on Tuesday to kick off a second week of programming announcements.

The 43 films come from filmmakers representing 41 countries, with 18 of the titles receiving their world premieres at TIFF. Those premieres include “Seven Days,” a film about an imprisoned Iranian activist directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi and written by Mohammad Rasoulof, a filmmaker who was himself sentenced to flogging and prison by Iranian authorities; “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,” a romantic comedy from French writer-director Laura Piani; “The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos,” a debut from the Nigerian filmmaking group known as the Agbajowo Collective; and Erin Lee Carr’s “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara,...

The first-ever World Culture Film Festival (Wcff) dazzled Los Angeles over the weekend with its international roster of films and star-studded lineup of honorees. Hosted by the Art of Living Foundation at the Regal Cinemas, the four-day event brought over 60 films from around the globe to the silver screen while recognizing visionary talents pushing boundaries in global cinema.

Among those shining brightly were Avenger star Tom Holland and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji. Holland earned the festival’s Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts award for his directorial debut “Last Call,” a tense family drama he helmed alongside brother Harry. Accepting the honor on his behalf, Sony Pictures Executive VP Palak Patel praised Holland’s commitment to evolving behind the camera and supporting independent voices.

Dorji’s impact stretched even farther as he picked up two top prizes. His drama “The Monk and the Gun,” set amid Bhutan’s transition to democracy,...

Updated with precise wording of awards categories from World Culture Film Festival. Actor Tom Holland and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji were among the awards recipients as the World Culture Film Festival wrapped its inaugural edition in Los Angeles.

Holland’s short film Last Call, directed by his brother Harry, screened on Saturday at the festival, a four-day event that describes its mission as showcasing “entertainment that uplifts.” He was honored with the Wcff Legacy Award For Performing Arts. See below for the full list of awards.

Accepting on Holland’s behalf was Palak Patel, EVP of Sony Pictures Entertainment, who told the awards show audience he has known the 28-year-old star for quite some time.

Tom Holland in ‘In the Heart of the Sea.’

“When Tom was 14 years old,...

The inaugural World Culture Film Festival in Los Angeles has found itself impacted by a dangerous storm half a world away.

Typhoon Gaemi, with top winds speeds equaling a category 3 hurricane, lashed the Philippines and Taiwan before blowing into China Thursday night. It caused widespread travel disruptions all the way west into Bhutan, where filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji had been attempting to get a flight to Los Angeles for the opening night of Wcff, a new event that describes itself as a platform for “entertainment that uplifts.”

The festival went ahead with the screening of Dorji’s Oscar-shortlisted dramedy The Monk and the Gun, but instead of being on the ground in L.A., the director participated in a Q&a via Zoom.

Filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji joins the World Culture Film Festival via Zoom from Bhutan.

“I was trying to be there in person, but there was a big...

The inaugural World Culture Film Festival kicks off in Los Angeles Thursday, a four-day event “dedicated to showcasing films that inspire, educate, and celebrate diverse cultures.”

Wcff opens with Oscar-shortlisted dramedy The Monk and the Gun, directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. The Bhutanese filmmaker — whose Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom earned a 2022 Academy Award nomination for Best International Film — will be present for a Q&a to follow The Monk and the Gun screening.

The festival closes with Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated Perfect Days, a drama about Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), a man who cleans Tokyo’s public toilets, which are renowned for their immaculate appearance.

‘Perfect Days’

“Hirayama clearly derives enjoyment from performing his work well,” the New York Times wrote in a rave review, “but there’s more to his life than labor, and more to this movie than a simplistic celebration of manual toil.”

The Wcff program includes more than 60 films,...

Thai sales company Diversion has acquired worldwide rights to Sivaroj Kongsakul’s Regretfully At Dawn, which is set to premiere in the New Directors competition of the upcoming San Sebastian Film Festival.

It marks the second feature of Thai filmmaker Sivaroj, whose 2010 debut Eternity won the Tiger Award at Rotterdam as well as top prizes at Hong Kong International Film Festival and Deauville Asian Film Festival.

Regretfully At Dawn follows a war veteran nearing the end of his life and his bright young niece who has a promising future ahead of her. They live quietly in a small province outside...

Hulu is giving Shark Week a run for its money this July with not one but seven National Geographic specials dropping on the streaming service at the start of the month. From Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie to Baby Sharks in the City, there are plenty of options for fans of these fearsome finned creatures.

Hulu also has a couple of fun offerings for adult animation fans with the full second season of Marvel’s Hit Monkey dropping on July 15 and Futurama returning for its 12th season on July 29th.

There’s not really anything notable in the way of original movies on Hulu this month, but Aliens, Step Brothers, and (500) Days of Summer are just a few of the noteworthy movies joining the library.

Here’s everything that’s coming to (and leaving) Hulu in July.

Hulu New Releases – July 2024

July 1

Attack of the Red Sea Sharks: Special Premiere...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) has invited 487 artists and executives to become members, with Sandra Huller, Justin Triet, Celine Song and Da’Vine Joy Randolph among the high profile invitees.

Also invited to join are actors Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Fiona Shaw, directors Alice Diop, David Yates and S S Rajamouli, and writers Arthur Harari and Tony McNamara.

Executives invited to join that branch of the Academy include British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts and Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor.

Among those invited to join the costume designers branch are Holly Waddington and Małgorzata Karpiuk.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) has invited 487 artists and executives to become members, with Sandra Huller, Justin Triet, Celine Song and Da’Vine Joy Randolph among the high profile invitees.

Also invited to join are actors Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Fiona Shaw, directors Alice Diop, David Yates and S S Rajamouli, and writers Arthur Harari and Tony McNamara.

Executives invited to join that branch of the Academy include British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts and Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor.

Among those invited to join the costume designers branch are Holly Waddington and Małgorzata Karpiuk.

The Hulu July 2024 premiere schedule has been announced and can be viewed below. The streaming service has also revealed the titles that will be leaving next month.

The Hulu originals for the month include Betrayal: A Father’s Secret, Dress My Tour, Futurama Season 12, Hit-Monkey Season 2, How I Caught My Killer Season 2, Land of Tanabata, Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer, Red Swan, and UnPrisoned Season 2.

Hulu gives viewers instant access to current shows from every major U.S. broadcast network, libraries of hit TV series and films, and acclaimed Hulu Originals.

Highlights

A look at the originals, exclusives, and premieres that are part of the Hulu July 2024 lineup.

The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes (2022 – Streaming July 2)

The Urashima Tunnel can grant any wish…for a price. High school boy Kaoru, plagued by a troubled past, teams up with Anzu, a girl who struggles to place obligations before her dreams,...

“Ezra,” the story of a stand-up comic embarking on a road trip with his autistic son, is the kind of movie that Hollywood doesn’t make much anymore. It’s not based on a toy or a comic book; instead it’s a warm-hearted, deeply human story without much in the way of special effects. But the movie, which opened last weekend in the height of summer popcorn season, is exactly what Closer Media, the new film and television company that backed the production, was founded to champion.

“We want to tell stories from all over the world that are meaningful and that can bring people closer together,” says Zhang Xin, noting that Closer’s mission statement is right there in its name. “When a project comes to us, we ask does it move our heart and does it open our eyes?”

It’s a new challenge for Zhang, a...

Los Angeles- and Bangkok-based film sales joint venture Est N8 is expanding into theatrical distribution in parts of Southeast Asia.

As a first step, it will release the Michael Mann-directed “Ferrari” in Thailand on Thursday and in Myanmar on June 21. The film, which premiered in Venice in September last year, was released in other territories between December and February.

Est N8 was formed Est Studios and N8. Est Studios was launched in 2022 by Jaeson Ma and Eric Tu. It represents Asian content across multiple genres and seeks an annual slate of 15 projects that it can finance, produce and represent. Thailand-based, N8 was founded by Kris Eiamsakulrat and Rachel Wu. Last year N8 formed a partnership with leading Thai studio GDH559, to co-produce a slate of Thai thriller and horror films aimed at the global audience.

The joint venture company says that it will distribute at least one big-budget title per month in Southeast Asia,...

Two new Australian films, both enjoying their world premiere, are among the first titles confirmed to play at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

“In Vitro,” a sci-fi mystery thriller set on a remote cattle farm in the near future, hails from directors Will Howarth and Tom McKeith (“Beast”) and stars Ashley Zukerman (“Succession”).

With “The Pool,” director Ian Darling (“The Final Quarter”) paints a cinematic portrait of a year in the life of the iconic Bondi Icebergs, the pool and the people who cherish it.

They will be joined by New Zealand actor Rachel House (“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”), who makes her feature directorial debut with “The Mountain,” which centers on three children discovering friendship’s healing power through the spirit of adventure as they trek through spectacular New Zealand landscapes. It is executive produced by Taika Waititi and will be eligible for Sydney’s recently announced First Nations Award,...

Remember we used to live in a society where women were not allowed to study or vote for the government? It took us a while to get on board with the idea that women should have equal rights. Imagine it’s 2006 in Bhutan, and the entire South Asian country is buzzing with excitement and nervousness because they’re about to vote for the first time ever! The King just gave them the gift of choosing their own leader. But hold up, this is a big deal because the Bhutanese people have always been used to serving under the King’s reign and living peacefully in their cozy little kingdom. In this period of modernization, the prospect of choosing their own leaders seems unfamiliar and unnecessary to many. Amidst these uncertainties, there is a Lama who wants a gun before Full Moon night, probably to “set things right” before this voting happens.

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.

After Blue (Bertrand Mandico)

In the post-apocalyptic nightmare of After Blue, humanity—or what’s left of it—roams a former paradise turned wasteland. The Armageddon that wrecked the Earth in some undetermined past left no machines behind, no screens, and, perhaps most conspicuously, no men. In the distant planet the human race fled to, and which writer-director Bertrand Mandico’s film is named after, “they were the first to die,” we’re warned early on: “their hairs grew inside them, and killed them.” As it was for its predecessor, The Wild Boys, After Blue is suffused in a feverish ecstasy, that wild excitement that comes from a watching one world crumble and another jutting into being from scratch, a vision of...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best International Feature Wim Wenders’ ‘Perfect Days’

Weekly Commentary: The United Kingdom is poised to win its first Academy Award with Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” and what a deserved win it will be.

But while I have the floor: it’s time for the...

The Asian Pop-Up Cinema film festival today revealed a look at its upcoming 18th edition, running March 20 – April 21, 2024. Each week throughout the festival is dedicated to works from a different region, with films available via streaming during the week and in-person presentations at AMC Newcity 14 on weekends. Leading up to this year's opening night, Asian Pop-Up Cinema presents sneak peek screenings of three films including Best International Feature Academy Award-nominee Perfect Days. The full program for the 18th Asian Pop-Up Cinema film festival will be announced on March 4, 2024.

As in past years, the festival dedicates each week to an exploration of a specific country or region's films. This year's program focuses on Taiwanese cinema from March 23 – 29, Korea from March 30 – April 3, Japan from April 1 – 7, China from April 8 – 14, and Hong Kong from April 15 – 21.

“Asian Pop-Up Cinema is a unique opportunity for us to showcase the incredible contributions Asian filmmakers are making...

M-Appeal has closed distribution deals in key territories for “Sex,” which had its world premiere in the Berlinale’s Panorama section.

The film, the first part of the “Sex Dreams Love” trilogy by Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud, has garnered attention for its thought-provoking exploration of sexuality and gender roles.

All rights for the film have been sold to Pyramide Distribution for France, JinJin Pictures for South Korea and Cinobo for Greece.

“Sex” follows two men in heterosexual marriages, who have an unexpected experience that challenges them to reconsider their understanding of sexuality, gender and identity. One has a sexual encounter with another man, without considering it either as an expression of homosexuality or infidelity and discusses it with his wife afterwards. The other finds himself in nocturnal dreams where he is seen as a woman, stirring confusion and leading him to question how much his personality is shaped by the gaze of others.

The Monk and the Gun is a satirical comedy that critiques the potential Americanization of Bhutan's newly democratic society. The film portrays Bhutan's resistance to Western influence and its desire to preserve its peaceful way of life. The storylines in the film are strategically layered to deliver powerful messages with maximum impact. The film is both humorous and poignant.

The Monk and the Gun, Pawo Choyning Dorji's satirical comedy about democracy coming to Bhutan, does not withhold judgment towards the potential Americanization of Bhutan's future as a newly democratic nation. It is no secret that the United States attributed the concept of democracy, often being the sole representative of what a successful democracy looks like but somehow escaping blame for the more warped form of democracy that Dorji is explicitly criticizing here. For a film about Bhutan's first election and transition from monarchy to democracy, The Monk and the Gun...

Pawo Choyning Dorji behind the scenes of The Monk and the Gun. All images courtesy of Roadside Attractions

by Chad Kennerk

His name means ‘the brave one’. It’s a fitting description for the youngest recipient of Bhutan's highest civilian award, The Druk Thuksey (The Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon). The son of a diplomat and a student of the world, Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji has lived in places as varied as the Middle East, Switzerland, India, and Appleton, Wisconsin, where he received his degree in Political Science. Dorji began his career as a photographer, telling stories through pictures. His love of photography and writing eventually took a natural evolution into moving pictures.

Through his work as a filmmaker and photographer, Dorji is on a mission to share Bhutan and Bhutanese culture with the world. His directorial debut, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, captured worldwide attention. The...

It’s a weekend of well-reviewed indie openings with Bleecker Street’s Out Of Darkness, The Monk And The Gun (from the directors of Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom) and limited openings for The Taste Of Things, Perfect Days (Best International Feature nominated), Anthony Chen’s Drift, Bas Devos’ Here and Ennio by Giuseppe Tornatore, which premiered in Venice in 2021 and is finally getting a U.S. release.

Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Japan’s official Oscar submission that nabbed a nom, opened at six locations in New York and LA Wednesday, adding additional cities next week. The film written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki stars Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo who seems utterly content with his simple life until a series of unexpected encounters reveal more of his unearthed past. See Deadline review.

Neon had a qualifying run in November.

There is very little written in the English language about the cinema of Bhutan, with only the broadest overviews of this still-emerging industry to be found at a glance. Not producing its first feature until the 1990s––and not producing one shot entirely within its borders until 2003––means that Bhutanese cinema is still finding a distinct voice. The biggest hits from this era have barely been seen outside the country for this reason; many were direct remakes of films from neighboring India, with any original efforts hampered by an overreliance on copying a perceived Bollywood “formula.”

Like most Western viewers, I don’t have any direct experience of Bhutanese films beyond the work of the country’s leading filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji, whose 2019 debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom quite literally put the cinema of his homeland on the map following its surprise Oscar nomination. However, a brief overview...

After his first success “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom,” Oscar nominee Pawo Choyning Dorji's second feature-length fiction film is a likable, if not overwhelming, comedy. While his directorial debut was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2021 Academy Awards, the first Bhutanese movie to be so recognized, Dorji's second production is also making its way around the world, including being nominated for the next Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category.

The Monk and the Gun is currently screening on cinemas, courtesy of Roadside Attractions

Kingdom of Bhutan, 2006. Bhutan becomes the last country in the world to connect to the Internet and television, and now the biggest change of all: democracy. To teach the people how to vote, the authorities organize a mock election in which the locals show their inexperience and lack of conviction. Traveling to rural Bhutan, where religion is more popular than politics,...

Bhutanese writer-director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s second feature, The Monk and the Gun, begins with a crackling radio broadcast. It’s 2006, but as it’s only been seven years since the Kingdom of Bhutan lifted its ban on television and internet, this is still the most efficient way to bring information to the masses. The broadcast itself informs the people of a bold new form of modernity that’s about to arrive in the country: democracy.

The main plot of The Monk and the Gun concerns the old lama (Kelsang Choejay) of a small village named Ura. He seems disturbed by the news that the king will be stepping down, so as to cede power to the people, and asks his young disciple, Tashi (Tandin Wangchuk), to help him with a ritual that will “make things right.” He won’t say what this ritual is—only that it must take...

If you’ve read this month’s preview earlier this week, you already know there are two very different wide releases this weekend. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

First up, there’s the new Matthew Vaughn spy action-comedy “Argylle,” based on a recently released book by one Elly Conway, presumed to be a pseudonym for another famous author, who sold the rights to Vaughn to make this movie even before the book’s release just a few weeks back.

Going by the trailer, there’s a bit of a mystery in the book and movie surrounding the identity of the film’s titular secret agent, but Vaughn has another stacked cast, including Bryce Dallas Howard as “Conway” with Henry Cavill playing “Argylle,” and the likes of Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Sofia Boutella and even pop star Dua Lipa. The...

After the cinematic doldrums of January, February brings surprisingly packed, varied offerings, from Oscar-contending international features to biographical documentaries of legendary film artists to some electrifying genre outings. Check out my picks to see below, and catch up with our Sundance coverage ahead of our Berlinale reviews here.

16. The Monk and the Gun (Pawo Choyning Dorji; Feb. 9)

Returning after his Oscar-nominated directorial debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorji’s Ifsn Advocate Award-shortlisted The Monk and the Gun premiered at Telluride and TIFF to much acclaim and will now be released this month. Selected by Bhutan as their Oscar entry, the heartwarming film is about an American in search of a long-lost, vintage gun in Bhutan as the country’s launching a democracy.

15. Ennio (Giuseppe Tornatore; Feb. 9)

The film world lost perhaps its most legendary musician when Ennio Morricone died at the age of 91 in July 2020. Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore,...

This year’s Palm Springs Film Festival saw not one but two international feature panel discussions hosted by The Hollywood Reporter. The first, moderated by THR’s own Kevin Cassidy, highlighted some of the most exciting non-English-language films of the year.

Matteo Garrone’s Io Capitano is Italy’s submission for the Oscar this year and follows two boys on a fairytale-like adventure across continents. The Monk and the Gun, Bhutan’s official selection, is directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji and tells the story of an American treasure hunter who crosses paths with a monk in the Bhutanese mountains. Morocco’s The Mother of All Lies, from Asmae El Moudir, sees the director imaginatively exploring her own family history in tandem with the history of her nation via clay figurines standing in for the real people in her life, who also appear onscreen.

J.A. Bayona helms Society of the Snow,...

Benjamin Ree’s gamer documentary Ibelin led the winners at Tromso International Film Festival (TIFF) on Saturday, January 20; after Norwegian feature Grandmonster took the Fiction Norway pitching prize last week.

Ibelin took the audience award, playing at Tromso the day after its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival. The Norwegian title follows the story of Mats Steen, a gamer who died of a degenerative muscular disease aged 25; after which his parents began to receive messages from online friends around the world. Netflix acquired US distribution and worldwide streaming rights on the title following its Sundance premiere.

Scroll down for the...

As we once again find ourselves in the midst of another year at the movies, we eagerly look forward to the films scheduled for release in the coming year. There is probably something coming out that should be over interest to everyone (at least that’s probably the hope of most filmmakers). As always, there will be the usual sequels and big blockbusters, as well as a plethora of additional titles in multiple genres to choose from. We hope you find this list of the upcoming films of 2024 and their release dates useful and that it helps you plan what you’re going to look forward to over the next twelve months.

The list below gathers all of the titles we know (right now at least) that are coming in 2024 by their current release date. Remember, these dates are subject to change. So, as dates change (and time permits) we...

As awards season switches up a gear, with the handing out of the Golden Globes and the publication of the Bafta shortlists, one major title stands out in the International categories of both: Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winning courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall. It would be a reasonable bet for the Oscar win in any year — if it were actually eligible. In lieu of Triet’s film, which fell well within Academy rules in terms of the amount of English spoken, the French selection panel opted instead for period gourmet drama The Taste of Things to do battle for the country’s honor, a move that is sure to cause a lot of confusion in the coming weeks.

Otherwise, the release of the international shortlist came with very few surprises this year, but perhaps chief among them was an unexpected snub for the Palestinian entry Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soulem.

Want to know which international features vying for Oscar gold are worth watching?

Variety‘s team of critics has been on the ground at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and other major film festivals, on the hunt for the best of the best. In December, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its shortlist of 15 films eligible for the second round of voting in the best international feature film category. Those Oscar contenders include “The Zone of Interest,” a United Kingdom-backed look at the Holocaust that’s received rave reviews, as well as searing dramas such as “Io Capitano,” Italy’s entry about two Senegalese migrants, and “Four Daughters,” a mixture of narrative and documentary from Tunisia.

Here are reviews of all of the movies eligible for the Oscar for Best International Feature.

20 Days in Mariupol (Ukraine) — Director Mstyslav Chernov and other AP journos document Russian Federation forces...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Academy Awards. 15 films from each of the categories below were shortlisted. There were no surprises when it came to most of the big film Oscar nominations like ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Barbie’, ‘Poor Things’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. India’s Oscar entry ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’ did not make the cut in a strong International feature film lineup. There were some surprises as well with Chilean film ‘The Settlers’, Argentinian film ‘The Delinquents’ and Turkish film ‘About Dry Grasses’ being snubbed.

Documentary Feature Film

“American Symphony”

“Apolonia, Apolonia”

“Beyond Utopia”

“Bobi Wine: The People’s President”

“Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy”

“The Eternal Memory”

“Four Daughters”

“Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project”

“In the Rearview”

“Stamped from the Beginning”

“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie”

“A Still Small Voice...

The shortlist of 15 films set to vie for a Best International Feature Film Oscar nomination only has a few surprises in the mix.

Firstly, there are a couple of crossovers with films also included on the documentary shortlist: Ukraine’s 20 Days in Mariupol and Tunisia’s Four Daughters. At the same time, Morocco’s The Mother of All Lies, also eligible in documentary, landed a shortlist slot only in International Feature.

For Ukraine, this is the first inclusion on an International Feature shortlist. For a narrative feature, same goes for Armenia with Michael A. Goorjian’s Amerikatsi.

Bhutan, here with The Monk and the Gun, is a comer. After landing the country’s first advancement in 2021 with Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, director Pawo Choyning Dorji is again in the mix.

Related: Oscar Doc Shortlist Scores & Shockers: ‘American Symphony Earns Trifecta, But Two Doc Legends Snubbed

A surprise here is Iceland’s Godland,...

With the 2024 Oscars shortlists for 10 categories arriving in late December, one key element to look out for is the international contenders with the legs to make it into categories past Best International Feature Film. This time last year, Netflix’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” established itself as a possible Best Picture nominee with multiple craft mentions, and by the March ceremony, the Edward Berger film collected the majority of Academy Awards given to below-the-line artisans.

This year, lightning may strike twice, as established Hollywood filmmaker J.A. Bayona’s “Society of the Snow” (Netflix), Spain’s official submission for Best International Feature Film, landed on four shortlists. A last-minute premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the moving retelling of the harrowing story of how the Uruguayan rugby team survived a plane crash in the Andes in 1972 has been building momentum as a must-watch among voters this holiday season.

Still...

Shortlists announced in 10 categories for 96th Academy Awards.

The Academy has announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Oscars in March 2024, with The Taste Of Things (France), Fallen Leaves (Finland), The Zone Of Interest (UK), Totem (Mexico), and Amerikatsi, Armenia’s first entry on the shortlist, among those making the cut in the international feature film category.

The international contest also sees Pawo Choyning Dorji’s drama The Monk And The Gun becomes Bhutan’s second film to make the shortlist after his Oscar nominee Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom from two seasons ago.

A strong showing by European...

Shortlists announced in 10 categories for 96th Academy Awards.

The Academy has announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Oscars in March 2024, with The Taste Of Things (France), Fallen Leaves (Finland), The Zone Of Interest (UK), Totem (Mexico), and for the first time Armenia (Amerikatsi) among those making the cut in the international feature film category.

The international contest also sees Pawo Choyning Dorji’s Bhutanese drama The Monk And The Gun become the country’s second film to make the shortlist after his Oscar nominee from two seasons ago.

A strong showing by European films besides the aforementioned comprises J.A. Bayona...

Shortlists announced in 10 categories for 96th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Academy Awards, with The Taste Of Things (France), The Zone Of Interest (UK), Fallen Leaves (Finland), The Mother Of All Lies (Morocco), and Totem (Mexico) among those to make the cut in the international feature film category.

Shortlists were also announced for documentary feature, documentary short film, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), music (original song), animated short film, live action short film, sound and visual effects.

More to follow…

Documentary Feature Film

Fifteen films will...

Wim Wenders' Perfect Days has made the 96th Academy Awards Oscar Best International Feature Film shortlist Photo: Anne Katrin Titze

From Tunisia, Four Daughters (Les Filles d'Olfa), Kaouther Ben Hania director; United Kingdom, The Zone Of Interest, Jonathan Glazer director; Ukraine, 20 Days In Mariupol, Mstyslav Chernov director; Italy, Io Capitano, Matteo Garrone director; Japan, Perfect Days, Wim Wenders director; France, The Taste Of Things, Trần Anh Hùng director; Armenia, Amerikatsi, Michael A Goorjian, director; Germany, The Teachers’ Lounge, llker Çatak, director; Finland, Fallen Leaves, Aki Kaurismäki director; Spain, The Delinquents, Rodrigo Moreno director; Mexico, Tótem, Lila Avilés, director; Denmark, The Promised Land, Nikolaj Arcel, director; Morocco, The Mother of All Lies, Asmae El Moudir, director; Spain, Society Of The Snow, Ja Bayona, director; Iceland, Godland, Hlynur Pálmason; and Bhutan, The Monk And The Gun, Pawo Choyning Dorji director are the 15 films selected for the International Feature Film shortlist.

Kaouther...

The academy released the 2043 Oscars shortlists in 10 categories on Thursday, December 21. The hopefuls in a wide range of races found out if they remain in contention for the 96th annual Academy Awards. Among these are the marquee categories for Best International Feature Film (which was pared down to 10 films from the 88 submitted) and Best Documentary Feature (which went from 167 to 15).

Both music awards – Best Original Song and Best Original Score — were winnowed down to just 15 contenders from 94 and 148 submissions respectively. Likewise for the three awards for shorts: animated (93), documentary (114) and live-action (187). The Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects races were culled from dozens of entries to 10 apiece.

Documentary Feature

One hundred and sixty-seven films were eligible for consideration; there are 15 on the shortlist. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees. The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

“American Symphony”

“Apolonia,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Academy Awards.

The shortlists were unveiled in the following categories: documentary feature film, documentary short film, international feature film, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), music (original song), animated short film, live-action short film, sound and visual effects.

Barbie, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Color Purple and The Zone of Interest are among the film that made the cut on multiple lists.

Nominations voting run Jan. 11-16, with the official noms announcement set for Jan. 23.

The Oscars ceremony will be held March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel is returning as host.

See the full shortlists below, along with the Academy’s comments about each category.

Documentary Feature Film

Fifteen films will advance in this category. One hundred sixty-seven films were eligible in the category.

Just in time for the holiday season, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has gifted a slew of films the honor of being included on the 2024 Oscars shortlists in a range of categories.

The annual shortlists for International Feature Film, Documentary, Sound, Original Score, Original Song, Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects, Live-Action Short Film, Documentary Short Subject, and Animated Short Film were unveiled December 21, almost one month exactly before the complete Oscar nominations will be announced.

Anticipated inclusions for Oscar frontrunners like “Barbie,” “Poor Things,” and “Maestro” made the cut in a variety of categories. Ukrainian documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” and Tunisian Isis saga “Four Daughters” are both pulling double duty with shortlist inclusions in the International Feature and Documentary Feature categories.

Academy Award nomination voting runs from January 11 – 16, with the official nominations announced on January 23. Final voting will then run from February 22 – 27, with the 96th annual...

A range of subjects, ranging from hot button to mystical, await Academy voters considering the contenders from South Asia in the international feature category.

The most visible film from the region is certainly Bhutan’s “The Monk and the Gun,” Pawo Choyning Dorji‘s follow-up to the Oscar-nominated “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom.” In the film, Dorji uses the first elections in one of the world’s youngest democracies to comment on what is lost as his country modernizes. The Variety critics pick, following its festival premieres at Telluride, Toronto, Rome and Busan, sold to a raft of major territories worldwide, including Roadside Attractions in the U.S.

Another South Asian feature in the Oscar race that’s striking a high profile is Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker Zarrar Kahn’s “In Flames,” Pakistan’s entry to the category. The film debuted at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, kicking off a stellar festival run including Toronto,...