News

New music drops every Friday. Here are some of the noteworthy awards contenders that debuted on or around March 21, 2025.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, I Said I Love You First

Real-life lovebirds Gomez and Blanco have joined forces on their first collaborative album, though the initial reviews are somewhat mixed. Martina Rebecca Inchingolo (Associated Press) writes that the artists "avoid cliché" on an "amusing pop album." And Robin Murray (Clash) calls it "a moving document of a relationship." But Alexis Petridis (The Guardian) thinks the music is "strangely anonymous for such a personal project." Still, the romantic narrative behind the couple's literal labor of love is compelling, and though Gomez has a limited Grammy track record — just one nom as a lead artist, Best Latin Pop Album for Revelación — Blanco has been a perennial nominee. As a producer, he has earned Album of the Year bids for Katy Perry's Teenage Dream,...

After teasing the track live onstage during his ongoing “Hope on the Stage” tour, j-hope of BTS has dropped his playful new single, “Mona Lisa.” Stream it below.

Get j-hope Tickets Here

The bouncy track arrives as a follow-up to “Sweet Dreams,” his melodic release with Miguel. Here, “Mona Lisa” sits more in the hip-hop portion of j-hope’s discography, and the confident choreography on display in the music video plays to his many strengths as a dancer. The track was produced by Blake Slatkin, who worked with j-hope’s bandmates Jin, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook on 2022’s Snoop Dogg collaboration “Bad Decisions.”

“Mona Lisa” is the latest move in a particularly busy season for j-hope. After kicking off his first solo tour in Seoul, he touched down in the US for an appearance on Jimmy Fallon, then began the North American leg of “Hope on the Stage.” Following...

J-Hope has released a new single, “Mona Lisa,” along with an accompanying music video. The upbeat song was co-produced by the singer with Blake Slatkin (Charlie Puth, Sam Smith, Lizzo).

The BTS member titled the single after Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece painting. A press release notes, “The track likens the praise for the alluring person to the timeless masterpiece. It conveys that what truly moves someone is not external beauty, but rather the distinctive characteristics that make each person special.”

J-Hope initially debuted the song during a recent performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

And then it was Saturday. SXSW 2025’s week-long music festivities closed out with another night of great shows from up-and-comers, established stars, and veteran acts writing new chapters. Join us for one more recap before we say goodbye ’til next year, won’t you? Here are the best things we saw at SXSW on March 15.

Charley Crockett Drifts Back Into Town

When Charley Crockett was just starting out, he used to stop by record shops in his home state of Texas and try to get them to sell his music.

Welcome back to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. This week, yet another record from the one and only Park Jimin . If you enjoy what you’re reading, feel free to subscribe to my companion newsletter to get Fan Chant delivered right to your inbox each week!

Jimin of BTS has secured another major Billboard milestone. Despite being mid-military enlistment Jimin has now become the record-holder for K-pop soloist with the longest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2024 release, “Who,” has sat on the famed chart for 32 consecutive weeks, passing the stretch of 31 weeks held by Psy’s “Gangnam Style.”

As “Who” continues its reign, it ties the record held by BTS as a whole — “Dynamite” danced along the Billboard Hot 100 for 32 weeks, too. After all, Jimin is no stranger to Billboard success, both within BTS and as a soloist; in 2023, he became...

Cristin Milioti experienced a well-deserved whirlwind awards season thanks to her indelible performance as Sofia Falcone in the Colin Farrell-led Penguin streaming series. Milioti won the Critics Choice Award (Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television) for her portrayal of the antagonist, and she was also nominated for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among others. Now, the talented thespian is joining Netflix’s upcoming animated adventure, In Your Dreams,in which Milioti will play Mom in the film. One of the movie’s writers and directors, Alex Woo, said of her casting in a new interview:

"Cristin is an Egot-level talent. She can sing. She can act. I haven’t seen her dance, but I’m sure she could give Ginger Rogers a run for her money. You believe every performance Cristin gives, and that’s every director’s dream come true.

j-hope of BTS has touched down in New York City for the next leg of his “Hope on the Stage” solo tour. The artist started his visit with a return to The Tonight Show, during which he was joined by Miguel for a warm performance of their new collaborative single, “Sweet Dreams.” Watch the performance — complete with j-hope in bunny slippers — below.

Backed by a live band, j-hope and Miguel traded verses on the dreamy track, with the BTS member slipping into his trademark melodic rap throughout the song. The pair and the accompanying instrumentalists performed against a backdrop of a bright sky on raised platforms that gave the sense of singing in the clouds. j-hope, who completed his time in the South Korean military in the fall of 2024, was visibly thrilled to be onstage in front of fans, who made their presence very known in the studio.

Get j-hope...

J-Hope stopped by The Tonight Show to perform his new single “Sweet Dreams” alongside Miguel. The pair took the stage for the collaborative, dreamy track, which sees them sharing vocals over a soulful beat.

The BTS member and solo artist debuted the song earlier this month. It marked J-Hope’s first return to music following his discharge from mandatory military for South Korea’s army. The singer began teasing the track with snippets from the music video and first-look pictures from the video shoot in February.

J-Hope sat down with...

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Lady Gaga returns to her dance-pop throne with Mayhem, Jennie delivers her R&b-tinged good times at breakneck speed, Doechii flips an old beat and shakes her anxiety, and Rachel Chinouriri explores a new infatuation over a synth-y rock track. Plus, new music from J-Hope, Jessie Reyez, Nathy Peluso, and more.

Lady Gaga, “Garden of Eden” (YouTube)

Jennie, “Like Jennie” (YouTube)

Doechii, “Anxiety” (YouTube)

Rachel Chinouriri, “Can We Talk About Isaac?...

While BTS is still on hiatus until June, due to their mandatory service with the Korean military, the boys are keeping their fan base — known as the army — fed. Since 2022, each of the BTS members have been dropping music as solo artists. The latest bit of music comes in the form of “Sweet Dreams,” a magical collaboration between BTS member J-Hope and Miguel.

On March 1, not quite five months after J-Hope had completed his mandatory military duty in the South Korean Army, the BTS rapper performed for another kind of Army — his fans. It was there that his recent military life converged with his omnipresent pop star status. At the second of three concerts in Seoul, the singer-songwriter-producer pointed at a familiar face in the crowd. But it wasn’t one of his bandmates. Jin, who completed his service last June, would attend the following evening, and Rm, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook...

j-hope of BTS has unveiled a new single, a breezy pop track titled “Sweet Dreams” featuring Miguel. Stream the easygoing new song below.

“Sweet dreams come after hours,” Miguel sings on the chorus, interspersed with j-hope’s promises to “love you like that.” It’s a more melodic performance from j-hope, who often straddles the line of rap and vocals; not unlike bandmate Jung Kook’s Golden era, he tackles “Sweet Dreams” entirely in English. The music video leans into the fantastical escapism of it all, depicting j-hope in the realm of an enormous floating house.

Get j-hope Tickets Here

“Sweet Dreams” falls in line with the vibe of j-hope’s most recent collection of music, Hope on the Street Vol.1, which followed his darker, more rock-inspired full-length solo debut, Jack in the Box. This month, members of the BTS Army in North America will be treated to cuts from throughout his discography,...

J-Hope is officially back. The BTS member and solo artist has officially released his much anticipated solo single “Sweet Dreams,” featuring Miguel. The dreamy track marks J-Hope’s first return to music following his discharge from mandatory military for South Korea’s army.

“Sweet Dreams” opens with Miguel’s signature falsetto delivering the refrain, “Sweet dreams come after hours” before J-Hope enters with his R&b-inflected hook: “I just wanna love ya like love ya like love ya like that.” Both Miguel and J-Hope sing over a soulful beat as...

J-Hope is giving fans another taste of his unreleased single, “Sweet Dreams.” The BTS member released a 30-second teaser for the single on Wednesday, giving a brief look at the singer waking up in bed as the sun pours into the room.

The clip ends with Miguel, who is featured on the upcoming track, belting out “Yeah” in his signature falsetto. The track is set to release on March 7 at midnight.

The latest teaser tacks on to a 30-second clip released Tuesday. In it, a disturbance causes a home to drift through the clouds,...

The Dublin Film Festival came to an end at the weekend after one of its most varied programs yet. Guests visiting the event included deep-dive documentary-maker Alexandre O. Philippe, attending with his Texas Chain Saw Massacre meditation Chain Reactions; director Jason Buxton, there with his acclaimed Ben Foster-starring thriller Sharp Corner, soon to be released by Vertical; Albert Serra, supporting his surprise San Sebastian winner Afternoons of Solitude; Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, honored by a curated retrospective; and British ’60s pop-culture icon Twiggy, subject of Sadie Frost’s film of the same name. From closer to home, director Lorcan Finnegan and writer Thomas Martin brought their cult Cannes hit The Surfer, and the UK’s Polly Steele came with Four Letters of Love starring Helena Bonham Carter and Pierce Brosnan.

Under the always assured stewardship of artistic Gráinne Humphreys, the festival took a big swing by opening with The Return,...

Of all the characters Jessica Lange has played throughout her illustrious career, it’s Mary Tyrone, the restless, morphine-addicted mother of Eugene O’Neill’s play Long Day’s Journey Into Night, that has been her favorite.

“She’s the character that has touched me more deeply than any role that I’ve ever played,” says Lange. “You never get to the bottom of Mary Tyrone and I’ve played her hundreds of times on stage in London and New York. She’s written with such beauty and love and truth and intensity that you never complete her. I could keep on playing her for the rest of my life.”

After Lange completed her run on the 2016 Broadway revival of the play with prolific British theatre director Jonathan Kent, which won her a Tony Award, the pair were keen to immortalize the epic story as a feature film.

“It happened very organically,...

J-Hope has his head in the clouds as he announces his latest single “Sweet Dreams,” set for release on March 7 alongside an accompanying music video. The musician previewed the record with its primary cover art, which features J-Hope cruising through the clouds in a convertible.

“A soulful blend of pop and R&b, ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ expresses the desire to love and be loved,” a description of the record from BigHit Music reads. Miguel marks the latest artist to team up with J-Hope, joining past collaborators Benny Blanco, Nile Rodgers,...

The 21st edition of the Glasgow Film Festival kicks into gear on Wednesday (February 26) with the world premiere of survival thriller Tornado from Scottish filmmaker John Maclean. With stars Tim Roth and Japanese actors Kōki and Takehiro Hira set to be in attendance, it’s sure to be one of the highlights of the 12-day event.

But there are also another 12 world and European premieres, 66 UK premieres and 12 Scottish premieres from 38 countries as well as In Conversation talks with stars such as James McAvoy and Jessica Lange and more on offer at the festival this year. We’ve rounded up what we think are sure to be some of the key films and events during this year’s Gff.

Tornado – Opening Night

The festival is opening with the world premiere of survival thriller Tornado from Scottish filmmaker John Maclean. The film, which stars Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira and Kōki,...

Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee and Sean Gunn have joined the cast of “New Years Rev,” the Green Day-inspired comedy movie from writer-director Lee Kirk.

The film, a coming-of-age story about three friends who journey to Los Angeles under the false belief that their band is opening for Green Day on New Year’s Eve, is based on the California punk rockers’ early exploits from living in a tour van.

Live Nation Productions describes the project as a “rowdy and mischievous” road-trip comedy “filled with adventures,” plus a live performance from Green Day.

Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman and Ryan Foust star as the band members alongside “Office” favorites Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio and Keen Ruffalo.

“Not only will ‘New Years Rev’ include wall to wall Green Day music and a concert at the Palladium in Hollywood, it’ll also feature some of the best and funniest actors working today.

When Calls the Heart Season 12 hit the halfway point. Everything was fine and dandy until now. A dark twist is coming for the residents of Hope Valley.

Sweet Dreams

On the Saturday, February 8th episode of Wcth, “When Autumn Leaves Begin to Fall,” Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) battles a head cold. This storyline might seem kind of dull, but there’s more to it than just a case of the sniffles. Elizabeth gets a fever and ends up having some heavy dreams about Nathan (Kevin McGarry). In a new interview with Swooon, Krakow revealed what this entailed.

“We have been playing these characters for many years now, and to get to see them in such a different light was really enjoyable, and hopefully enjoyable for the fans as well,” Krakow said. The dream sequences offered their characters a “really unique opportunity” to team up. Krakow teased that the dreams had “lots...

The challenge for IFFR Pro, the industry strand of International Film Festival Rotterdam which runs from January 31-February 5, is always attracting attention in a crammed part of the calendar, close to Sundance, Berlin and Gothenburg.

One figure who has the contacts and the experience to ensure the event is noticed beyond Dutch borders is Marten Rabarts, the former head of Eye International and artistic head of Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam.

Rabarts, recently appointed head of IFFR Pro, already has long links with IFFR. “My connection with Rotterdam is so deep-seated that it is in my own DNA. I have been...

There is no dearth of pyaar-vyaar love-shove in Sweet Dreams, a poor copy of a very poor film 2014 television film ‘In My Dreams’.

The first question that pops up while watching this wishy-washy rom-com is, why appropriate ideas from a dubious source? The original was incredibly awful, and the remake is just about borderline unbearable.

Very simply put, the oversweetened pudding plot is about two strangers, Kenny (Amol Parashar) and Dia (Mithila Parker), who “meet” each other in their dreams without ever having met in reality.

So, where does something so intrinsically trite go from its inception? Did someone say downhill? The individual scenes are written as if they were audition sheets for a high school play for Valentine’s Day. The characters speak as if they were recording voice notes.

There is a relatively interesting passage where Kenny is on a blind date with a girl who is a...

Here’s What You Can Watch This Republic Day Weekend! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

For this weekend, we’ve curated a diverse lineup of films and series for your entertainment. In theatres, enjoy a Bollywood release, a Hollywood feature, the 4K re-release of a celebrated Indo-Japanese anime classic, or a Mollywood movie—whatever suits your fancy. On the Ott front, Netflix brings two new titles, Apple TV+ presents an intriguing sci-fi miniseries, and Amazon Prime debuts a Telugu series, among others. Scroll down for the complete list!

Netflix The Night Agent Season 02 Episode 01 (English)

Release Date: 23 January 2025

Created by Shawn Ryan, this spy conspiracy action thriller stars Gabriel Basso and is based on Matthew Quirk’s novel of the same name. The series has already been renewed for a third season, with the second season delving into new conspiracies and high-stakes international conflicts.

You Hurt My Feelings (English)

Release Date: 26 January 2025

The film,...

“The Possessed,” the third feature film from Bosnian-Dutch filmmaker Ena Sendijarević and her English-language debut, has been greenlit and is set to shoot in Spain at the start of 2026.

The project, which was selected for Cinemart last year, will be presented to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. International casting is underway. The project, which has 1.2 million Euros in place through the Netherlands Film Fund, has secured majority production funding.

Sendijarević’s second feature “Sweet Dreams,” which was in the main competition at Locarno, was chosen as the official Dutch submission for this year’s Academy Awards. The colonial satire was deemed a “startlingly accomplished sophomore film” by Variety’s reviewer. She signed with Black Bear’s management arm in January and was selected as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch this year.

Sendijarević’s 2019 feature debut, “Take Me Somewhere Nice,” an absurdist European road trip movie, won...

How Is Britney Spears Responding To Concerns Of Alleged “Erratic Behavior” ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Since the last few months, there have been several reports of people being worried about Britney Spears. Her loved ones, her team, and her managers are allegedly worried about the pop star as her “erratic” behavior does not seem to end. Recent reports have also claimed that her spending has also begun hurting her financial situation due to a lack of active sources of money.

The 43-year-old is now reportedly asking people to back off and let her live her life as she wants, especially after she finally got free from her decades-long conservatorship not too long ago. Here’s what we know about the dramatic situation and how Spears allegedly reacts to it.

Is Britney Spears Brushing Off Erratic Behavior Concerns?

According to In Touch Weekly, “Britney is brushing off new concerns for her wellbeing...

Did Meryl Streep Want To Play Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams? ( Photo Credit – Wikimedia )

Imagine this: Meryl Streep as Patsy Cline. A country queen twist on Meryl the Goat—sounds like a perfect fit, right? But nope. Even Meryl Streep, with her 21 Oscar nominations and legendary status, didn’t land this one. She once told Vanity Fair, “Karel was a friend of mine who I adored, and he was making a film about Patsy Cline, who is a singer I adored.” Two legends, one film, and yet… no Meryl.

Instead, the role went to Jessica Lange, the blonde powerhouse who made Patsy Cline her own in Sweet Dreams. Karel Reisz, the director, decided Jessica would look better in the role. Sure, casting decisions happen. But Meryl wasn’t bitter. She made peace with the loss, swapping potential fame for a cozy stay at Reisz’s house while filming Plenty in England.

Sex Education‘s Aimee Lou Wood’s BBC romantic comedy series Film Club has built out cast.

She is penning Film Club with Ralph Davis (House of the Dragon), who is also starring in the show, and added to the cast are Suranne Jones and Nabhaan Rizwan, whose Netflix drama Kaos was recently cancelled. Adam Long and Liv Hill are also starring.

Film Club has commenced filming in Manchester and will air next year on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three and later on ZDFneo in Germany. Gaumont UK is producing, with Fremantle handling international sales. Show was first announced back in February.

Plot follows Evie (Wood), who hasn’t left her home in six months after a ‘wobble’. She runs a film club in her garage as an escape with her best friend Noa (Rizwan) and whoever else turns up.

Exclusive: Daveed Diggs (Nickel Boys), Mason Gooding (Scream), Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), and stand-up comedian and actress Margaret Cho (All That We Love) will round out the cast of I Want Your Sex, Gregg Araki’s Black Bear thriller starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman and Charli Xcx, which has wrapped production in Los Angeles.

Details as to the roles to be played by the quintet are under wraps. A provocative film blithely exploring desire, domination, and fantasy, I Want Your Sex asks, how far is too far? When fresh-faced Elliot (Hoffman) lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provocateur Erika Tracy (Wilde), his fantasies come true as Erika taps him to become her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds himself out of his depth as Erika takes him on a journey more profound than he ever could have imagined, into a world of sex,...

Universal-owned animation studio Illumination surprised fans with a Halloween special based on its popular Sing franchise. The special, Sing: Thriller, was released on Netflix this Wednesday and announced the day before.

The 11-minute short sees the cast and characters reenact scenes from the music video for the famous 1983 Michael Jackson song “Thriller.” Many of the actors, such as Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly, return for the special. Garth Jennings, director of the first two films, also returns to direct and voice the character Ms. Crawly.

So is Sing: Thriller full of spooky songs and terrifying tunes? Let’s find out.

The special begins with the theater troop performing a play at the theater. We see many cameos in the crowd, including a surprise return of fan-favorite Mike the Mouse from the first Sing movie, who was originally voiced by Seth McFarlane. They put...

Leading Dutch independent production company Lemming Film has restructured, promoting producers Erik Glijnis and Tom van Blommestein to the new positions of head of film and head of TV series respectively.

The restructure comes as Lemming manages a busy development and production slate (see below for more details).

Glijnis has worked at Lemming since 2016 and has producing credits including Sweet Dreams, which premiered in Locarno in 2023 and was the Dutch Oscar candidate, Do Not Hesitate, Milk and Dead And Beautiful.

Van Blommestein joined Lemming in 2020 having formerly worked at Nl Film and Endemol Shine. His credits include Zenith season 2, Floor Rules,...

Marco Bellocchio’s “Se posso permettermi Capitolo II” (May I Say? Chapter Two), which has its world premiere Sunday in the Out of Competition section of the Venice Film Festival, has debuted a first clip (below). Rai Cinema is handling world sales.

The 30-minute film is the sequel to the short of the same name made in 2019 as part of the Fare Cinema (Making Cinema) training program.

The synopsis reads as follows: “Over the course of one day, Fausto, invincible in his inertia, watches a paradoxical procession of visitors pass by: the mellifluous village parish priest; a mysterious man with his absurd idea of a ghost-themed business; the captain of the Carabinieri who proposes a shotgun wedding with his daughter, who’s carrying the child of a stranger.

“Finally, late at night, a pair of thieves, in cahoots with Barbara, break into the house. Fausto surprises them, as always impassive and bored,...

“Sweet Dreams” the new R-rated comedy feature, written and directed by Lije Sarki, stars Johnny Knoxville, Mo Amer, GaTa, Bobby Lee, Theo Von, Brian Van Holt, Jonnie Park, Shakewell, Adam Faison, Erik Anthony Gonzalez and Beth Grant, with Jay Mohr and Kate Upton, now streaming on Prime Video:

“…forced into rehab at the ‘Sweet Dreams’ recovery center, ‘Morris’ (Knoxville) struggles to confront the wreckage of his life.

‘But when their house goes up for auction, he reluctantly agrees to coach their misfit softball team of recovering addicts to win a cash prize and prove that everyone, despite their past, can hit a home run…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Zach Bryan and Beyoncé lead a crowded, star-studded pack of nominees for the 2024 People’s Choice Country.

Bryan picked up 19 nominations total, Beyoncé followed just behind with 17, and Kacey Musgraves picked up the third most with 15. All three artists will vie for the night’s top prize, The People’s Artist of 2024, alongside Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, and last year’s winner Morgan Wallen.

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Bryan’s self-titled album will also compete for The Album of 2024, as will Musgraves’ Deeper Well,...

Sandy Cheeks takes center stage in Netflix’s new installment in the “SpongeBob SquarePants” universe, “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie.” When the beloved residents of Bikini Bottom get snatched up and hauled off to Texas, Sandy and SpongeBob head out on an adventure to save the whole neighborhood.

Of course, the cast is full of familiar “SpongeBob SquarePants” voices, but the adventure also spends some time on the road with Sandy’s family and introduces some new — yet also familiar — names to the cast. So if you’re wondering who’s who in the new “SpongeBob” movie, here’s a handy guide to the “Sandy Cheeks Movie” cast and characters.

Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks (Photo Credit: Netflix / Getty Images)

Sandy Cheeks is once again voiced by Carolyn Lawrence, the voice actress who has played the character from the original series through numerous spin-off series, films and video games.

With the afternoon sun beating down on East Texas, Koe Wetzel has decided it’s time to jump off the roof.

It’s late June, and Wetzel, with a vodka and soda in hand, is sitting in his boathouse, staring out at the lake. This Friday, he’ll release his new album 9 Lives on Columbia Records, and based on the streaming and chart success of its first singles, it’s poised to be the biggest of the Texas country singer’s five studio albums. But he’s also at the mind-numbing point of album promotion,...

Melbourne International Film Festival has revealed the 10 titles in the running for its $94,500 competition prize.

Debut and second features are eligible for the Bright Horizons competition, which was introduced in 2022.

The line-up includes several Cannes titles; Leonardo Van Dijl’s tennis misconduct drama Julie Keeps Quiet which won the Critics’ Week Sacd award; Mo Harawe’s The Village Next to Paradise, the first Somali film to ever screen at Cannes (in the Un Certain Regard section) this year; and Un Certain Regard animation Flow from Gints Zilbalodis, recently a prizewinner at Annecy.

More Cannes titles are; Rungano Nyoni’s second...

The Melbourne International Film Festival has set ten features to play in its Bright Horizons competition section.

They include: India Donaldson’s “Good One”; Luna Carmoon’s “Hoard”; Annie Baker’s “Janet Planet”; Leonardo Van Dijl’s “Julie Keeps Quiet”; Ena Sendijarević’s “Sweet Dreams”; Matthew Rankin’s “Universal Language”; Mo Harawe’s “The Village Next to Paradise”; Gints Zabalodis’ animated “Flow”; Rungano Nyoni’s “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl”; and Australian director Charles Williams’ debut feature “Inside.”

The non-competitive Headliners section, which showcases films that have premiered at other festivals, includes: Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis”; Mumbai-based director Payal Kapadia was recently the first Indian director for 30 years with a film in competition in Cannes presents “All We Imagine as Light”; Coralie Fargeat’s Demi Moore-starring “The Substance”; Jia Zhangke’s “Caught by the Tides”; Sebastian Stan in Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man”; Cannes best director-winning Asian odyssey,...

Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz drama Life scooped the top Golden Bee award for Best Feature Film at Malta’s second Mediterrane Film Festival over the weekend.

This year’s selection was overseen by Italian film festival veteran Teresa Cavina, who pulled together a line-up of 45 works with Mediterranean basin connections, 15 of which were in the main Competition.

In the backdrop to the festival, leading English-language newspaper The Times of Malta continued to probe whether the event’s budget of $4.1M budget (€3.9) was good use of taxpayers’ money on the island nation, with a population of roughly 500,000 people.

Last year, the newspaper heavily criticized the event for allegedly splashing cash on business class fights and luxury hotels for actors, directors and journalists as well as a lavish black-tie closing event, fronted by UK star David Walliams.

Replying to fresh questions from the newspaper, Malta Film Commission head Johann Grech said the...

Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz’s Life won the best feature film prize at the second annual Mediterrane Film Festival’s Golden Bee Awards in Malta this weekend.

Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown won the Jury’s Choice prize, while The Strangers’ Case picked up two awards: best director for Brandt Andersen and best acting for Yasmine Al-Massri.

Mike Leigh received the festival’s career achievement award, while veteran Maltese production coordinator Rita Galea, whose credits include World War Z, received a lifetime achievement award.

The main competition jury was comprised of Jon S. Baird, Margery Simkin, Mario Philip Azzopardi,...

Zeki Demirkubuz’s “Life” was awarded the Golden Bee for best feature film at the second edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival.

Mahdi Fleifel’s Directors’ Fortnight breakout “To a Land Unknown” took the Jury’s Choice prize, while Brandt Andersen’s “The Stranger’s Case” won Golden Bees for Best Director for Andersen and Best Acting for Yasmine Al-Massri.

The awards were handed out at a glitzy ceremony at the grand Fort Manoel in the Maltese capital of Valletta, which served as a location for “Game of Thrones” and “Assassin’s Creed.” BAFTA-winning British filmmaker Mike Leigh was honored with the festival’s Career Achievement Award after giving an extended career talk earlier at the festival with Maltese veteran production coordinator Rita Galea (“World War Z”) receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s jury was headed by Scottish filmmaker Jon S. Baird (“Tetris”) and featured casting director Margery Simkin,...

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 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that it is extending invitations to 487 to join the membership ranks of the Oscar organizer. If all accept, it will bring the Academy’s total membership to 10,910, of which 9,934 would be voting members.

This year’s list across 19 branches include 2024 Oscar winners Da’Vine Joy Randolph from The Holdovers; Poor Things costume designer Holly Waddington and production design team James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek; 20 Days in Mariupol director Mstyslav Chernov, War Is Over! producer Brad Booker; The Zone of Interest sound duo Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn; the Godzilla Minus One VFX team Tatsuji Nojima, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Takashi Yamazaki; American Fiction writer-director Cord Jefferson; and Anatomy of a Fall writing duo Justine Triet and Arthur Harari.

Jefferson and Triet are among eight names on the list who were invited to more than one branch (noted...

The Mediterrane Film Festival announced its complete program ahead of its second edition, taking place in Malta’s capital of Valetta from June 22-30. New titles selected include recent Cannes highlights in Coralie Fargeat’s Demi Moore-led body horror “The Substance” and Roberto Minvervini’s “The Damned,” which join previously announced films like Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Kinds of Kindness” and Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw The TV Glow.”

Further program additions include Mahdi Fleifel’s Directors’ Fortnight standout “To a Land Unknown,” which Variety labeled “a confident, angry, fully-realized drama,” and Truong Minh Quy’s Un Certain Regard breakout “Viet and Nam.” An extended version of the Malta-shot “Jurassic World: Dominion” will play as part of the Malta Expanded strand, while on the retrospective end of the program, the festival will honor David Bowie with screenings of Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and Lisa Azuelos’s “My Way,...

The Mediterrane Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its second edition (June 22-30), with Cannes premiere The Count Of Monte Cristo set to open the event.

Scroll down for the full line-up

Directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, the film is among seven titles in the out of competition strand, which also includes Jane Schoenbrun’s Sundance title I Saw The TV Glow and Tarsem Singh’s Dear Jassi.

The 15-strong competition section features Cannes competition titles Kinds Of Kindness and The Substance, and Berlin premiere The Strangers case starring Omar Sy,

Seven films compete in the environment-themed Mare Nostrum section,...

Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival has set the full competition and industry lineup for its second edition, which runs June 22 to 30 in the country’s capital, Valletta.

The programme includes 15 films in competition, seven out-of-competition, and seven films competing in the environment-themed Mare Nostrum section, topped up by 14 immersive projects.

Select competition titles include Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest Kinds of Kindness, Coralie Fargeat’s body horror The Substance, and The Damned by Italian filmmaker Roberto Minvervini. All three films debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Scroll down to see the full lineup. Deadpool and Terminator: Dark Fate director Tim Miller will serve on the competition jury.

The festival has also set its industry lineup, featuring a series of masterclass sessions. Speakers include editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis, production designer Nathan Crowley, casting director Margery Simkin, and composer Simon Franglen...

Stars: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, Hunter Schafer | Written by Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou | Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos reteams with stars Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley for this bizarre triptych of stories that are simultaneously surreal, disturbing and darkly funny. Co-written by Efthimis Filippou, who previously collaborated with Lanthimos on Dogtooth, The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the film marks a thrilling return to the director’s signature strangeness and the unsettling sensibilities of the Greek Weird Wave.

Set in present-day New Orleans, Kinds of Kindness tells three separate stories, with each cast member playing three different characters. The stories are nominally linked by a character named in their titles, though there is very little narrative overlap, only repeated echoes of themes, lines and images.

In the first story, “The Death of R.

Holy Chimichangas! The Merc with a Mouth is Finally teaming up with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine on the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine. After Jackman retired as the character, we didn’t think we would get a chance to see this happen. Since the trailer reveal, we have seen this film firmly takes place in the current Multiverse Saga that the MCU is going through. With that, we’ll see our heroes cross over with a lot of surprises, and it appears to be the final send-off for much of the Fox/Marvel universe. Here is who we want to see show up during the film.

Quicksilver

Evan Peters’ take on the speedster turned into one of the most fun sections of the later X-Men movies. I still watch him evacuating the X-Mansion set to Sweet Dreams on YouTube every once in a while. It would be great to see...

Roseanne's death in The Conners brought the show back to its working-class roots, saving it from becoming out of touch. The revival ruined Roseanne's original premise of addressing income inequality and blue-collar struggles. The Conners revived the elements that made viewers care about the Conner family, bringing back Roseanne's original spirit.

As a working-class viewer of Roseanne, its revival, and The Conners, I was struck by how much killing off Roseanne brought the show back to its roots. When I first watchd Roseanne in college, the shows appeal eluded me. The episode we studied as part of TV history, season 2, episode 8, Sweet Dreams, is something of an anomaly in the shows canon. Its an odd, semi-surreal dream/ fantasy episode where Roseannes wish for a peaceful bath is repeatedly interrupted by the rest of the family. When I rewatched Roseanne years later, the episode made more sense in retrospect.

While...

The trailer for Yorgos Lanthimos’ new film has arrived. The filmmaker has already followed up his Poor Things run with Kinds of Kindness, which reunites him with the Academy Award-winning star of his last film, Emma Stone, as well as her Poor Things co-star, Willem Dafoe. The new trailer from Searchlight Pictures displays the chaotic nature of the film, with all the clips feeling non-sequitur. And with Sweet Dreams providing the soundtrack for the trailer, it certainly hammers home the dream-like feeling of this abstract movie.

When director Yorgos Lanthimos and actress Emma Stone make a feature film together, Academy Award nominations follow. Their 2018 collaboration The Favourite was nominated in the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Production Design, Costume Design, Cinematography, and Editing categories, with supporting actresses Stone and Rachel Weisz also earning nominations and lead actress Olivia Colman taking home an Oscar for her performance. Their 2023 collaboration...