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How far would you go to lift a deadly curse?

Ahead of the film’s world premiere at this year’s SXSW, Annapurna Sriram’s “Fucktoys” has unveiled its trailer exclusively to Variety, teasing a grindhouse adventure through a town named Trashtown, USA. After a woman named AP (Sriram) loses a tooth and is unexpectedly cast with a curse, psychics promise that it can be lifted by a measly $1,000 payment and animal sacrifice. AP immerses herself in the underbelly of Trashtown to earn the money she needs to live another day.

The trailer teases the film’s outrageous tone and 16mm cinematography, as AP looks to psychics for advice and proudly proclaims that “I love trash.” The film’s official synopsis teases that: “In this irreverent and sexy dark comedy, AP collides with a series of larger-than-life characters and absurd situations, each more unhinged than the last, as she winds her way toward the inevitable.

Finecut, a leading Korean sales house, announced multiple deals for occult animation Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning and added further sales for multi-sensory horror Noise.

Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning, an adaptation of a best-selling novel in Korea with a record of 10 million copies sold and 238 million views online, has been acquired by Pro Films (Bulgaria), Polyband (Gas), Cineplex (Latin America), Cola Films (Taiwan).

The film follows Father Park, a doctor-turned priest who must protect a naïve yet powerful child from his corrupt master within a secretive, magic-wielding temple or risk repeating the same tragedy that he took up the cross to prevent. The film has been invited to numerous animation film festivals following its premieres at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia.

The animation is produced by Locus Animation Studios, a leading animation and VFX studio known for Red Shoes And The Seven Dwarfs,...

Korean sales company Finecut has announced multiple deals for upcoming occult animation Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning and horror title Noise, ahead of Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM).

Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning, an adaptation of a best-selling novel in Korea with over 10 million copies sold and 238 million views online, has been acquired by Pro Films (Bulgaria), Polyband (Gas), Cineplex (Latin America) and Cola Films (Taiwan).

The film follows Father Park, a doctor-turned priest who must protect a naive yet powerful child from his corrupt master within a secretive, magic-wielding temple or risk repeating the same tragedy that he took up the cross to prevent. The film premiered last year at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia.

The animation is produced by Locus Animation Studios and it will have a wide release on February 21 in South Korea.

Noise has been picked up...

Korean sales powerhouse Finecut is ramping up its slate ahead of Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM), securing a raft of international deals for its animated occult thriller “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” and multi-sensory horror film “Noise.”

“Exorcism Chronicles,” which bows theatrically in Korea on Feb. 21, has been snapped up by Pro Films for Bulgaria, Polyband for German-speaking territories, Cineplex for Latin America, and Cola Films for Taiwan. The supernatural toon, adapted from a Korean literary sensation that moved 10 million copies and gained 238 million online views, follows a doctor-turned-priest protecting a supernaturally gifted child from dark forces within a mystical temple.

The project comes from animation house Locus Animation Studios, the outfit behind “Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs,” which saw theatrical rollouts in over 120 territories. “Exorcism Chronicles” has already built festival buzz following premieres at both Annecy and Sitges.

Meanwhile, Finecut has expanded the reach of “Noise,” its genre...

I’m a big fan of artists starting out independently and publishing their music on YouTube — and that’s exactly the path Vaundy took. His music career started in 2019, making him one of the newer voices I’ve heard in recent anime opening and ending themes. It didn’t take long for Vaundy to start gaining recognition, as he was chosen as one of Spotify’s “Early Noise 2020” artists. His debut album, “Strobo,” was released in 2020 and peaked at #5 on the Oricon Albums Chart. Related: Check Out Vaundy’s Top Anime and Exclusive Video Interview Without losing momentum, Vaundy began to work on anime opening and endings, most notably for Chainsaw Man and Ranking of Kings . All that to say, Vaundy is just getting started in the anime scene with his music! We’re spotlighting artists from Crunchyroll’s music catalog by sharing which anime series they’ve performed OPs...

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Vans has adapted and evolved with the punk and skate scenes, sported onstage and in every mosh pit, soaked in beer or thrashed to threads in concrete skate parks. To toast the brand’s status as an icon of subculture, Vans convened a two-day global media summit celebrating Vans’ classic silhouette, the Old Skool. Multiple generations of punk icons, hip-hop legends, DIY artists, and skateboarders crowded into the...

Guess who’s back, back again… It’s Saturday Night Main Event! Yes, the classic WWE brand returns for a much-anticipated show, the first in Sixteen years! Let’s get straight into it and see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Scottish Warrior picked up a major victory over Sami Zayn to kick off the action at the first Saturday Night’s Main Event in 16 years. Zayn immediately brought the fight to Drew McIntyre, flustering the former WWE Champion, who responded by tossing The Honorary Uce onto the announce table in spectacularly brutal fashion. McIntyre went for White Noise, but Zayn pulled off a remarkable counter and hit a sunset flip powerbomb that nearly won the match. The Scottish Warrior nailed a Glasgow Kiss, but his attempt at a Claymore backfired when Zayn...

Smith/Kotzen, featuring Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith and The Winery Dogs’ Richie Kotzen, have announced their sophomore album, Black Light / White Noise, arriving March 7th.

The duo also offered up the lead single “White Noise,” a gritty hard rocker that lets the duo unleash its talents. Both Smith and Kotzen are skilled singers and split vocal duties — Smith with his clean and sultry delivery that is a nice foil for Kotzen’s high register pipes, which reach Chris Cornell-level heights here. And considering both are guitarists by trade, the axework is pristine throughout.

“The song is about the rise of social media, how people get addicted to it, the power of it and how we get bombarded with it 24/7,” said Smith of the lyrics in a press release.

Added Kotzen on the song’s origins: “It was actually a riff Adrian brought in. I then immediately started improvising...

Oscar nominee Celeste has returned with a new single, “This Is Who I Am,” serving as the title track for the upcoming Sky and Peacock original series The Day of the Jackal.

The British singer-songwriter, whose debut album Not Your Muse charted no. 1 on the U.K. albums chart, produced the program’s title song with Kendrick collaborators Beach Noise. She is also known for the Academy Award-nominated “Hear My Voice,” which she co-wrote with composer Daniel Pemberton for the Netflix film The Trial of the Chicago 7.

On Monday, Sky released the title sequence for The Day of the Jackal designed by Hingston Studio, featuring her track.

“Celeste’s ‘This Is Who I Am’ perfectly encapsulates the essence of The Day of the Jackal — both propulsive and distinctive,” said Gareth Neame, CEO and executive producer, and Nigel Marchant, managing director and executive producer, at production firm Carnival Films. “We...

Broadway actor Gavin Creel died Monday at the age of 48.

The Tony-winning star, known for his leading roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair and the recent revival of Into the Woods as well as his activism and positivity in the Broadway community, died after being diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in July. He underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering before transitioning to hospice care at home.

His passing was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward.

Known for his energetic and ebullient performances and his resonant voice, Creel won a Tony for his role as Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, directed by Jerry Zaks. Critics praised his portrayal of the enthusiastic shop clerk, with THR critic David Rooney noting that Creel’s voice had “never sounded sweeter,” adding that “Creel...

Song Name – Sehra

Movie – Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam

Singers- Dhvani Bhanushali & Varun Jain

Music- White Noise Collectives (Sachin-Jigar)

Lyricist- Kausar Munir

Check out Sehra Song Lyrics from Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam starring Dhvani Bhanushali and Aashim Gulati

Chaand pe chaandi sehra tera,

Laakhon mein ek hai chehra tera.

Soney pe suhaaga sehra tera,

Soney pe suhaaga sehra tera,

Laakhon mein ek hai chehra tera.

Doodh mein cheeni,

Ghol ke peeni,

Ab toh hai saari umar…

Ek hi pyaali,

Ek hi thaali,

Aisa ho apna basar.

Haathon mein tere mehendi lagi hai,

Meri lakeerein mehak rahi hain.

Maang mein tune taare sajaaye,

Qismat ye meri chamak rahi hain.

Salma sitaara sehra tera,

Salma sitaara sehra tera,

Laakhon mein ek hai chehra tera.

Doodh mein cheeni,

Ghol ke peeni,

Ab toh hai saari umar…

Ek hi pyaali,

Ek hi thaali,

Aisa ho apna basar.

Bandcamp has revealed it will hold three more Bandcamp Fridays in 2024, during which the music platform will waive its revenue share for 24 hours and give 100% of sales directly to artists and labels. The first of the announced Bandcamp Fridays is today (September 6th), with the next two following on October 4th and December 6th.

Bandcamp Fridays began in March 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and has put over $120 million from music and merch purchases directly into the pockets of artists and labels. It’s also hosted charity compilations like Noise for Now’s Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All, which raised over $230,000 during its 24-hour window.

“​​Bandcamp provided us with the ideal platform to maximize our fundraising impact,” said Noise for Now Executive Director Amellia Bauer in a statement. “Released for 24 hours only on a Bandcamp Friday in 2022, the benefit compilation Good Music to Ensure...

Park Hoon-jung, an in-demand director of action-noir films, will begin production this month on “Tristes Tropiques.” The picture will be launched to distributors on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival by Finecut, which is to handle sales rights.

The film follows a group of young assassins affiliated with the Tristes Tropiques organization, which specializes in jungle warfare and is under the absolute rule of Master.

The production will be located in Thailand and run from September to December. Finecut reports that it will boast an international cast adept at diverse styles of action, but it offers no details of either the Korean or foreign elements.

“Tristes Tropiques” is produced by director Park’s own production company, Gold Moon Film and is co-produced by Mindmark, a content IP company owned by the Shinsegae department stores and duty-free shopping group. Its recent slate also includes “A Normal Family,” “Victory,” “Love Reset” and “Honey Sweet.

In Geoffrey Sax's 2005 thriller "White Noise," Michael Keaton plays an architect named Jonathan Rivers (not to be confused with rocker Johnny Rivers) who is living in connubial bliss with his second wife Anna (Chandra West). One night, Anna doesn't come home. She remains missing for five months. Jonathan is devastated, but holds out hope that she may still be alive. One day, he is contacted by a man named Raymond (Ian McNeice) who claims to have a clue as to Anna's whereabouts. Raymond has been watching static-tuned TVs and listening to garbled radio signals, and claims he can hear voices emerging through the hissing. Raymond is convinced that the voices are the voices of ghosts, able to communicate with the land of the living through electrical signals. 

Jonathan doesn't believe Raymond at first, but soon falls under the spell of white noise monitoring. He finds that his monitoring is...

Seoul-based film company Finecut has secured the international distribution rights to the thriller-drama “A Girl With Closed Eyes.” Directed by Chun Sun-young in her feature film debut, the movie stars Kim Min-ha and Moon Choi. It tells the story of a woman accused of murder who claims her victim was actually her kidnapper from years ago.

Finecut picked up the rights ahead of upcoming film festivals where “A Girl With Closed Eyes” will debut. These include the Toronto International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival in October. Kim Min-ha is well known for her leading role in the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko.” Moon Choi has appeared in several popular Korean films.

The film is backed by Solaire Partners, a venture capital firm that has supported many successful Korean movies. These include the Academy Award winning movie “Parasite” and box office hits like “Extreme Job” and “12:12: The Day.

Korean thriller film “A Girl With Closed Eyes,” which will have a market launch at the Toronto International Film Festival, before world premiering in October’s Busan festival, has secured a world sales representative in Finecut.

The company is also representing “By the Stream,” the latest project by Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo, which premiered in Locarno earlier this month, where it won the best performance award, and will next play in the Centrepiece section in Toronto. Finecut’s Korean horror-thriller “Noise” will premiere at the Sitges fantasy festival and has a market screening at Toronto Industry Select.

“A Girl With Closed Eyes” follows a murder suspect and a detective with a shared past. The two women are reunited through the murder of a bestselling author and uncover hidden truths as the investigation deepens.

The film, currently in advanced post-production, marks the feature debut of director Chun Sunyoung, whose short film...

South Korea’s Finecut has secured international sales rights A Girl With Closed Eyes, a thriller led by Minha Kim of Apple TV+ series Pachinko, ahead of its world premiere at Busan International Film Festival (Biff).

The sales agent will reveal the first footage of the film to international buyers at Toronto next week. It will premiere in the Korean Cinema Today section of Biff in October.

The upcoming feature follows a murder suspect and a detective with a shared past, reunited through the killing of a bestselling author, where hidden truths are uncovered as the investigation deepens.

It marks...

The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled its lineup for the Industry Selects program of films beyond the official fest lineup and available for worldwide acquisition as each gets an in-person screening for film buyers and industry execs.

Leading the selection is Christopher Leone’s Code 3, an action comedy that stars Rainn Wilson and Lil Rel Howery and is from Wayfarer Studios; Locked, David Yarovesky’s remake of the Argentinian action thriller 4X4 toplined by Anthony Hopkins and Bill Skarsgård; and Teemu Nikki’s 100 Litres of Gold, about two sisters famous for their Finnish farmhouse.

Other sales titles headed to Toronto as part of the Industry Selects program include Allan Ungar’s London Calling, where the director reteams with Josh Duhamel for an action comedy; Mehdi Idir’s Monsieur Aznavour from Playtime Group; Korean director Kim So-jin’s Noise; and Rich Flu, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead,...

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the full Industry Conference line-up running September 6-10 including the Perspectives panel series in partnership with Screen International.

The festival has also announced the 10 Industry Selects acquisition titles screening for accredited industry, a roste that features Rich Flu, Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s follow-up to 2019 TIFF selection The Platform; South Korean first-time director Kim Soo-jin’s Noise, and Teemu Nikki’s previous Nordic Film Market participant 100 Litres Of Gold from Finland.

The moderated Perspectives sessions will look at a range of topics including the future of film journalism, sustainable cinema, Indigenous co-productions,...

Seoul-based Finecut has secured distribution deals in more than six territories for high school drama film Victory, ahead of the film’s Korean release on August 14.

Victory has been acquired by 815 Pictures (North America), Sky Films Entertainment (Taiwan), Lumix Media (Vietnam), Pt Prima Cinema Multimedia (Indonesia), House of M (Thailand), Emphasis Video Entertainment (Inflight) and Westec Media Limited (Cambodia).

The film received its world premiere as the opening film at the New York Asian Film Festival and stars Lee Hye-ri (Reply 1988) of K-pop group Girl’s Day and Park Se-wan (Life Is Beautiful).

It tells the story of a high school dance duo (played by Lee and Park), who inspire people in their village with their cheerleading performance. They also soon find themselves cheering on an underdog school soccer team on a remote island.

Directed by Park Beom-su, the cast also includes Cho A-ram...

South Korea’s Finecut has sold upcoming comedy-drama Victory to a raft of territories including North America ahead of its local release on Wednesday (August 14).

The film, centred on a Korean cheerleading squad, has been acquired by 815 Pictures for North America and Lumix Media for Vietnam, both of which will open the feature theatrically on August 16.

It has also been picked up for Taiwan (Sky Films Entertainment), Indonesia (Pt Prima Cinema Multimedia), Thailand (House of M) and Cambodia (Westec Media Limited), which are set to release the film from late August to September. Inflight rights have gone to Emphasis Video Entertainment.

TaleFlick, the online story discovery platform launched by “White Noise” producer Uri Singer and former Netflix executive George Berry, is opening its doors to poets in a move it says is driven by a desire to welcome submissions that “capture the essence, history, and vibrant traditions of Saudi Arabian culture.”

Storytelling in the Arab world is traditionally tied to oral history and poetry. The stated goal of opening TaleFlick – which provides writers with a chance to showcase their work to producers and studios – is to build a bridge between Saudi poems and Hollywood.

“Poetry is the heartbeat of Saudi Arabian culture, resonating deeply with its people and heritage,” Singer – who is TaleFlick’s CEO – said in a statement to Variety. “By embracing poems, we aim to honor and elevate this beautiful art form, providing a platform to transform these stories into powerful visual narratives,” he added.

TaleFlick’s expansion from...

David Byrne and Devo have unveiled the contribution to Noise for Now Vol. 2, an abortion access and reproductive rights benefit compilation landing everywhere on June 21st.

The song, “Empire,” was originally written by Byrne and Devo for Byrne’s collaboration-heavy 1997 solo album, Feelings. Two different collaborations came from those sessions — “Wicked Little Doll,” which ended up making the album, and “Empire,” which they’ve now unearthed for the Noise for Now comp.

With marching drums, regal horns, and a military-esque flair, Byrne and Devo satirize the American capitalist empire. Though there is a majestic air to the song, beneath the bright hues are some more sinister tones. “The strong alone will survive,” Byrne sings, less a promise and more a harrowing threat. Stream “Empire” below.

“‘Empire’ is an ironic capitalist fascist anthem and, at the time, I thought our version was just too mean and caustic for release,” Byrne said in a press release.

The official website for the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Tsubasa Yamaguchi's coming-of-age manga Blue Period released a 90-second main trailer today on May 28. It is also announced that the film's theme song "Noise" is provided by solo artist WurtS , and the song is featured in the trailer for the first time. WurtS began experimentally releasing songs on YouTube and TikTok in 2020, and has gained immense popularity among young people, with over 400 million total streams. "Originally, 'Noise' was born from a feeling of wanting to break out of my shell that I had when I first started my music career. When I received the offer from the Blue Period film, I felt a link between this feeling and Yatora's state of mind, and started to write the song," said WurtS. "I also had the time when what started as a 'like' somehow turned into an expression of myself,...

The Dylar pill in White Noise takes away fear of death but causes terrifying hallucinations and isn't Fda approved. Noah Baumbach's adaptation delves deeper into post-modern philosophy, questioning truth and reality. The Dylar pill does not exist in real life; Don DeLillo's fictional drug symbolizes society's death obsession.

In Noah Baumbach's White Noise, the Dylar pill offers a unique and life-changing experience for those who decide to take it. White Noise is an adaptation of the 1985 novel of the same name by Don DeLillo and is considered one of the prime examples of post-modern literature, making it something of prime rib for Baumbach, whose fascination with post-modernism and the varying nature of truth has been at the forefront of nearly all his films. His 2022 White Noise dives even deeper into the philosophy.

White Noise is Noah Baumbach's first directorial adaptation of a novel.

The absurdist comedy White Noise...

Korean sales firm Finecut has inked multiple deals for horror thriller “Noise” and for “A Traveler’s Needs,” the recent Berlin prize-winner directed by Hong Sangsoo.

“Noise” is a “multi-sensory and realistic horror” film that intertwines societal motifs of “floor noise” with suspenseful elements. Directed by Kim Soo-jin, the film centers around a woman with a hearing aid haunted by inexplicable sounds linked to her sister’s disappearance in her own apartment and attracting a malevolent presence. The film is currently in post-production.

Among the pre-completion buyers are France’s Kmbo, Red Castle Group for the Cis region, Indonesia’s Prima Cinema Multimedia and Thailand’s Iris Cinema Thailand. Finecut will screen a promotional extract at its booth and in the Cannes Market.

The Isabelle Huppert-starring, Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize-winner “A Traveler’s Needs” has scored multiple deals since launching at Berlin’s EFM. These include one with The Cinema...

As Florida’s six-week abortion ban takes effect on Wednesday, Faye Webster released “Lifetime (Live)” as part of the reproductive rights benefit album Noise for Now Vol 2.

The project, set for release on June 21, stems from the non-profit Noise for Now and its recently launched label. According to a press release, the album will be released on vinyl and digitally across all streaming platforms, with proceeds benefiting independent abortion providers across the country via Keep Our Clinics. Noise for Now Vol 1. will include 11 songs from Webster, The War On Drugs,...

When millions of Americans came together to marvel at the stunning solar eclipse, we saw a rare moment of unity amid the darkness of a country torn apart by polarization. Bookending the same week? The release of action-thriller “Civil War,” now the number one film in America and A24 Films’ most successful release yet. Set against the backdrop of an imagined second American Civil War, the film follows photojournalists led by Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), as they capture the horrors of a failed country.

After previewing the film, I fixated on the plot’s open space left by writer and director Alex Garland. For audiences wondering what leads us to this point of no return, Garland deliberately shoots back with blanks, inviting us to fill in the rest.

I believe that it matters how we fill those gaps. Films of this magnitude, especially on a radioactive topic, set a narrative in our culture.

While multiple Korean TV series have connected with global audiences, Japan’s production committees, terrestrial broadcasters and talent agencies have kept their TV industry tightly focused on a local market.

Anime and variety have long remained the Japanese TV industry’s best-known exports, while the premium end of the spectrum has largely escaped Japanese producers. That is despite multinational shows like Hulu’s “Shogun,” HBO’s “Tokyo Vice” and Netflix’s “House of Ninjas” underscoring the potentially substantial overseas interest in Japan-set live-action drama.

“House of the Owl,” set to begin airing on Disney+ and Hulu from next week, is both an outlier and a potential mold breaker.

A crime thriller about a behind-the-scenes political fixer and his chafing rivalry with his son, “House of the Owl” was conceived as a five-season ride along the lines of “House of Cards” or “Succession.” But overcoming the obstacles on the way to...

Leading South Korean sales company Finecut has picked up international sales rights to action comedy film “Boss.” It will launch the title at next week’s FilMart in Hong Kong.

Directed by Ra Hee-chan, the film follows gang members embroiled in fierce competition. They struggle not just for supremacy within their clan, but also to achieve their own dreams in everyday life.

“Boss” stars Jo Woo-jin as a man who wants to run his family’s Chinese restaurant; Jung Kyung-ho (“Men of Plastic”), who believes it is his destiny to be a Tango dancer; and Park Ji-hwan (“The Roundup” film series), who is the most eager member to be the boss, but nobody wants him.

Production is by Hive Media Corp., the company behind the late 2023 box office hit “12.12: The Day,” which garnered over 13 million admissions.

Finecut will be screening the first footage from the new title at its booth in FilMart.

South Korean sales company Finecut has picked up international sales rights to upcoming action-comedy Boss and will introduce the film to buyers at Hong Kong Filmart this week.

The feature is produced by Hive Media Corp, the company behind South Korea’s biggest box office hit of 2023, 12.12: The Day.

The story follows members of a gang amid the search to appoint a new boss. But rather than fight for the title, the gangsters dream of escaping to a normal life.

The cast is led by Jo Woo-jin of Netflix series Narco-Saints, whose character wants to run his family’s...

Manolo Caro has entered a multi-year first look deal with Onyx Collective alongside Rafael Ley and Maria Jose Cordova of Woo Films, who produced Caro’s Netflix series “The House of Flowers.”

Along with “The House of Flowers,” which ran for three seasons from 2018 to 2020, Caro is known for creating Netflix’s 2020 limited series “Someone Has to Die” and directing films including 2016’s “Tales of an Immoral Couple” and 2018’s “Perfect Strangers.” Woo Films has been behind several of Caro’s projects as well as films the Netflix films “Noise” (2022) and “Where the Tracks End” (2023) and the Viggo Mortensen-led “Eureka” (2023).

“Manolo Caro is in a rare class of storytellers who blend heart and humor to reveal the essence of what makes us all human,” said Tara Duncan, president of Onyx Collective. “He is a proven hit maker, and we’re excited to bring his universal stories to the Hulu audience.

Destroy Everything You Touch: Hoesl & Riemann Come to Conquer with Dark Satire

As Abba once succinctly stated, “Money, money money/Must be funny/In a rich man’s world,” which is certainly the case in the latest film by Austrian director Daniel Hoesl, co-directing with Julia Niemann. The pair previously co-directed the doc Davos (2020), featuring the locals in a rural Swiss town visited by wealthy elitists once a year, which sounds an awful lot like Park City, Utah, where the Sundance Film Festival hosted the premiere of this title (along with Hoesl’s similarly articulated 2013 debut Soldier Jane). Once the assistant director to the venerable Austrian provocateur Ulrich Seidl (who produced this film), Hoesl shares a certain streak of misanthropy with his mentor, introducing us to a family of impossibly callous elitists who feel something like the self-absorbed clan of White Noise (2022) who have developed a taste for playing the...

South Korea’s Finecut has secured international sales rights to animated feature Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning and will launch the title at the European Film Market next month.

The film is based on Lee Woo-hyuk’s best-selling fantasy novel Toemarok, which sold nearly 10 million copies following its release in 1994, and will mark the feature directorial debut of Kim Dongchul.

It is set in a world where superheroes intermingle with the occult and includes an excommunicated priest, a young woman with telekinesis, a man who lost his sister to a malevolent spirit, and a young prodigy skilled in arcane magic.

Billed...

Trinity CineAsia has acquired UK and Ireland rights to Table For Six 2, sequel to the smash hit Hong Kong comedy, in deal with Edko Films.

The ensemble comedy is again written and directed by Sunny Chan, whose 2022 film Table For Six centred on an awkward family reunion and became the third highest-grossing Chinese-language in Hong Kong on release in 2022 with takings of $9.85m ($77.1m).

The sequel revolves around three weddings and how a family of aunts, uncles and cousins all get involved with the nuptials. Original cast returning for the follow-up includes Stephy Tang, Louis Cheung, Ivana Wong, Lin Min Chen...

This week in Rambling Reporter: On the heels of Sunday’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony where Netflix’s Queer Eye picked up a sixth straight trophy in the structured reality category, we’ve learned why the new season will be one episode short; Lenny Kravitz sets the record straight again on his BET Awards comments to Esquire; a pair of Quiet Place scribes make some noise in Iowa of all places; and Mauro Café’s owner has no plans to close anytime soon.

Why Queer Eye’s Next Season is One Episode Short

A new season of Queer Eye hits Netflix on Jan. 24, and the rollout is underway with Fab Five member Tan France recently teasing on Instagram, “Get ready, folks, this season’s a great one.” Per multiple sources, it was also pretty scary. A string of crime around the New Orleans set caused panic among staff and...

A US-based distributor of Japanese independent films Sakka, in partnership with a Japanese production company Atmovie, is set to start a new initiative “Creator Tour” in their effort to foster new-generation Japanese filmmakers in the global marketplace. The two companies join forces to broaden the perspective of Japanese creators in filmmaking and inspire the next generation of talent to compete on the global stage.

In each of these tours, two Japanese filmmakers who have already proven themselves domestically will be invited to the US where they are given opportunities to interact closely with local creators and industry professionals, and learn firsthand the global market from both the commercial and artistic perspectives. The filmmakers will also participate in an event at the 43rd Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani, scheduled for October 12-22 (www.hiff.org) in Honolulu, Hawai’i, where they will see how the Japanese filmmakers are...

The night before Paramore released their sixth studio album This Is Why, they shared a list of all the things they were thinking about while working on the LP: Agoraphobia. Cabin fever. American Psycho. One point read: “Confused about the difference between selfishness and self-preservation.”

“Making This Is Why was not a comfortable experience for any of us,” frontwoman Hayley Williams says. The album did not come easy: There was worry born from the pandemic, but also the lingering uncertainty that has followed Paramore over the last 20 years. This Is Why,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Blue Beetle, Strays and Ahsoka.

Oceana’s Rock Under the Stars

Oceana hosted its fifth annual Rock Under the Stars event on Saturday with a special performance from Gladys Knight and featuring celebrity guests Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Mary Steenburgen, Sam Waterston, Sally Pressman, Ed Begley Jr. and Tommy Chong.

Keri Selig, Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless, Mary Steenburgen, Gladys Knight, Ted Danson and Oceana board president Keith Addis Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson

LA Regional Food Bank’s A Million Reasons Celebration

Ted Danson, Jeff Goldblum, Dylan McDermott, Mary Steenburgen and Sam Waterston supported the LA Regional Food Bank at an event on Sunday.

Sam Waterston, Emilie Livingston, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Keith Addis, Dylan McDermott and Keri Selig

HamptonsFilm SummerDocs Joan Baez I Am...

Following the success of “Noise”, Yusaku Matsumoto had some trouble coming up with his next movie, instead opting to deal in shorts and TV. This changed in 2022, with “All My Fault”, which was, though, definitely on a lower level than his aforementioned debut. As such, it is with great pleasure to see that he is back in form with “Winny”, a court drama focusing on the homonymous copyright infringement criminal case, the first in which a computer program developer faced a criminal charge for assisting in the copyright infringement of the program's users.

Winny is screening at Japan Cuts

The film follows the actual events quite closely, starting with the two arrests of Winny users, which eventually led to the apprehension of the actual developer of the program, Isamu Kaneko, a 33-year-old assistant professor at the University of Tokyo who is also the main protagonist of the movie. At the same time,...

Apple TV+ scored a nomination at the Emmy Awards for their commercial starring Timothée Chalamet.

“Call Me with Timothée Chalamet” is competing in the Outstanding Commercial category. The spot was produced by Mjz and created by Tbwa/Media Arts Lab.

The ad shows Chalamet enjoying the programming on Apple’s streaming service that included the Best Picture Winner Coda, Jennifer Lawrence-starring film Causeway and Selena Gomez’s documentary My Mind and Me.

Chalamet then starts questioning why he doesn’t have a documentary like Gomez or imagining himself doing tv after seeing a billboard that celebrates Ted Lasso for winning an Emmy.

Related: Emmy Winners For Best Drama Since 1960: A Photo Gallery

“Severance is weird. I could do weird,” Chalamet says while watching an episode of the series. While on set, Chalamet watches Black Bird on his iPad and adds, “I guess I could do prison.”

The Dune...

Writing for New Scientist magazine (paywalled), Christopher Paolini – author of 2002 fantasy novel Eragon, which was adapted for the big screen by 20th Century Fox in 2006 – cites Babylon 5 as a major influence on his new science fiction novel, Fractal Noise.

Fractal Noise is a prequel to Paolini’s first Sf novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, which was published in 2020. It is the third book in his Fractalverse series.

Paolini told New Scientist:

Although the CGI is pretty janky, as a result of a number of unfortunate studio choices over the years, the writing and storytelling of this series remain incredibly solid. One of the first TV shows to tackle multi-season arcs… and to make them work. Babylon 5 has some of the greatest characters found in science fiction, and some of the most moving and epic moments.

Can’t argue with that. Paolini has always been open about his influences,...

TodoiF continues to provide streaming service specializing in Japanese independent films since June 2022. We are pleased to announce the launch of our subscription service beginning May 2023. You can enjoy the new service for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The three new releases this month are “Closet”, “Arano”, and “And Again We are Going Up”. In addition, “Noise,” which has only been available in Asia excluding Japan, is now available in response to audience demand. The film can be viewed from anywhere except Japan, France, Dom-Tom, Monaco, Benelux, and Switzerland.

Later this month, we will start streaming Asato Watanabe’s A Dobugawa Dream, which was selected to Raindance Film Festival 2019.

Watch our films through PC and mobile browsers. iOS and Android apps Coming Soon!

In addition to streaming Japanese independent films, todoiF supports filmmakers by creating English subtitles, selecting appropriate overseas film festivals, and submitting to those film festivals on their behalf.

A Broadway icon is making his contribution to a royal celebration.

Decca Records has announced a new single by Andrew Lloyd Webber commissioned as an Anthem the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla.

Read More: King Charles’ Coronation Part Of Long Evolution For Queen Camilla

Titled “Make A Joyful Noise”, the song will be released on Saturday May 6, the same day as the coronation where it will be performed live during the service.

Photo: Decca Records

According to the press release, “The Anthem includes a short opening and closing fanfare played by the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force. The Anthem is scored for The Choir of Westminster Abbey with Abbey sub-organist Peter Holder, conducted by Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, Andrew Nethsingha. The studio recording of the work features The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.”

On the day of the coronation, “Make A...

Chloe Bailey has made a name for herself in the music industry as one half of the musical sibling duo Chloe x Halle and her recent solo album "In Pieces." Now in her latest film "Praise This," the "Grow-ish" star's music is merging with her burgeoning acting career, as she plays an up-and-coming singer named Sam who dreams of one day getting her big break. However, her plan goes off track when her father forces her to move from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with her cousin Jess (Anjelika Washington). But after joining Jess's praise team, Sam realizes the group could be her ticket to stardom if she helps them win a national championship competition.

The film, which premieres on Peacock on April 7, seems like it will easily join the list of iconic choir movies alongside the likes of "The Fighting Temptations" and the "Sister Act" franchise. If you...

US-based distribution hub Sakka just rolled out its exclusive release of “Made in Japan”, a short film directed by Yusaku Matsumoto. The film will be available as a special free streaming for a limited window of three weeks. This worldwide release (excluding Japan) marks this award-winning film's first-ever international distribution. The viewers can also enjoy the director's commentary as Sakka's exclusive bonus content.

When the film premiered at Moosic Lab 2018, it thrilled the audience by winning Audience Award, Special Jury Award, and Best Actor. It also screened at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and had a rare theatrical release in Japan as a solo short film.

The director Yusaku Matsumoto is one of the most sought-after young directors in Japan today. His latest feature “Winny” debuted in Japan this March in the top ten at the box office. Sakka released Matsumoto's first feature film “Noise” (2018) earlier this month.

Netflix’s newest spy thriller series “The Night Agent,” based on the novel by Matthew Quirk and starring Gabriel Basso and recent Oscar nominee Hong Chau, seems to be a bonafide hit for the streamer. It debuted at #1 on the English television list with 168.7 million hours viewed. Created by Shawn Ryan of “The Shield,” the series ending up in the top 10 for 93 countries, many of them at #1. Read on for the Netflix Top 10 (Week of March 20).

Season 2 of “Shadow and Bone” was in second place with 55 million hours viewed – it was #1 in the Ukraine –followed in third by Season 4 of “You” with 30.2 million hours viewed. The first five episodes of the fourth season of reality series “Love is Blind” entered the charts in fourth with 25.5 million hours viewed. The documentary series “Waco: American Apocalypse” entered the charts right behind it with 21.5 million hours viewed.

“Luther: The Fallen Sun” remained #1 for...

“The Night Agent” might not be pulling “Wednesday” numbers, but the new thriller series had a very strong first week on Netflix.

The Shawn Ryan-created thriller topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 English TV series list in its first week of availability, with 168.71 million hours viewed. That’s the most for Week 1 of a new Netflix series, English-language or otherwise, since “Wednesday.” And we’re only counting four days of viewing, as “The Night Agent” debuted on a Thursday; Sunday night is Netflix’s weekly cutoff.

Beyond new debuts, “The Night Agent’s” start was the single best week for a show since Season 2 of “Ginny & Georgia” premiered to 180 hours viewed. Last week marked the third-biggest week for the debut of a Netflix show since the streamer started publicizing the Top 10 lists.

“Wednesday,” of course, still ranks at No. 1 in terms of new-series debuts, after it opened to a...

Netflix's Belgian offering, the twisty mystery Noise, follows a social media influencer, Matthias (Ward Kerremans), who's pushed into a deadly mystery when he shifts to his childhood home, along with his girlfriend, Liv (Sallie Harmsen). When he comes to know from his father, Pol (Johan Leysen), about a mysterious accident at an abandoned factory nearby, Matthias sets himself on a deadly path that finds him fighting the horrifying memories of his own past. A suspense-filled psychological thriller, Noise leaves many questions in the open by the end of its run-time even though it delivers enough for a near-conclusive interpretation.

Warning! This article contains Spoilers for Noise!

Contains discussion of suicide

Netflix's new film Noise is garnering a lot of attention, but most of it isn't positive. The Belgium thriller film follows social media influencer Matthias moving back into his childhood home with his girlfriend and their newborn baby. The protagonist dives into an incident at a local factory with which his father was connected. Matthias' father has dementia, so he's not a reliable source for information on the factory accident. However, to gain more followers on social media, Matthias explores the incident, falling down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. The protagonist's mental health deteriorates as he digs further into the mystery.

It's revealed in Netflix's Noise that the main character's mother had mental health issues and committed suicide when Matthias was a baby by drowning herself in the pond in their backyard. Matthias' father was able to...