Author: SD

Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera unveiled the festival’s lineup yesterday (July 23), including films by Nanni Moretti, Martin McDonagh and Lee Chang-dong. It’s Barbera’s 19th edition at the helm, and as always he has sought to attract a mix of potential Oscar contenders, big-name stars and the latest in auteur-driven, global arthouse cinema.  He talks to Screen about the 2026 line-up, from the challenges of pulling together the selection from a whopping 1,972 feature film entries to his personal highlights and who to expect on the red carpet. He also addresses the lack of female filmmakers in competition and explains why there are fewer…

On this week’s episode of The Screen Podcast, the team delves into the lineup for the 2026 Venice Film Festival, which was announced earlier today.  Watch above or listen below To download or subscribe to future episodes, search for ‘The Screen Podcast’, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast and YouTube. Host Wendy Mitchell is joined by Screen’s editor Matt Mueller and senior international critic Wendy Ide to discuss what themes emerged from this year’s programme, including the absence of Hollywood studios once again, the lengthy documentary section and the inclusion of just one woman in competition.  The Screen…

The European Commission has approved Paramount Skydance’s $111bn (£84bn) takeover of Warner Bros Discovery on the condition that it ends its United International Pictures (UIP) film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures. In its ruling, the Commission expressed concern about Paramount’s distribution market power in Europe if it acquired WBD while continuing its UIP joint venture. It noted: “The transaction would have meant Warner’s films were also distributed via UIP and, without the commitments, it would have led to worse rental and distribution terms for cinema operators, ultimately disadvantaging consumers.” The Commission confirmed reports last month that Paramount had offered…

EXCLUSIVE: Leading independent film organisations in Georgia have written an open letter to warn the international community they believe the country’s state-backed cultural events are being hijacked to mask the “deterioration of human rights, growing restrictions on freedom of expression and the shrinking of civic space”. In a letter published in full below, they write these events “present only a carefully curated version of reality, creating the illusion that everything is well at home”. Speaking to Screen, one of the signatories alleged: “The situation in Georgia is really difficult. Many innocent people are in prison now. We want the international community…

Tributes from across the UK and international film world have poured in for Simon Field, the UK producer and festival director who died last week aged 80 after an illness. The former International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) head – from 1996 to 2004 – was also the celebrated producer of films including Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s 2010 Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. “I have lost an important companion, with whom we built the films together with love, over many years,” said Apichatpong via Instagram. “I cannot dream of a more caring and supportive producer, and a kind…

Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who won an Oscar for her role in My Left Foot, has died aged 81. Her agent Phil Belfield said in a statement that she died after a period of ill health. “We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her,” he added. ”I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over.” Fricker won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 1990 for…

The Hungarian film industry breathed a collective sigh of relief as Péter Magyar’s government, elected in May, confirmed it is removing the cap on new registrations for the tax incentive.  This cap was introduced last year by the outgoing Hungarian administration and is acknowledged to have had a very damaging effect on the production sector. Uncertainty around the incentive, worth 30%, rising to 37.5% if non-Hungarian costs are included, led to some major projects shooting elsewhere. This week, however, Ervin Nagy, state secretary for culture, has confirmed the “blockage on the tax incentive system” has been lifted. “We stand by…

  Ahead of what is expected to be its huge opening weekend, The Odyssey grossed $17.6m from preview screenings in 3,300 North American cinemas on Thursday (July 16), the biggest domestic preview take of the year so far.  The performance just beat the $17.5m that Toy Story 5 took from North American previews one month ago.  In international markets where it opened on Wednesday (July 15) or Thursday, the film has taken $22.2m over its first two days.  Universal Pictures releases The Odyssey today (July 17) in 3,919 North American theatres and over the weekend in 73 markets around the…

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has revealed an additional five films for its special presentations programme, among them David and Nathan Zellner’s Alpha Gang and Rachel Morrison’s Love Of Your Life.  Alpha Gang, a US sci-fi comedy with Cate Blanchett, Dave Bautista, Chris Pine and Lea Seydoux, is billed by TIFF as an international premiere (suggesting the film may be in line for a world premiere at another autumn festival).  Love Of Your Life, a US romantic drama with Margaret Qualley, from Amazon MGM Studios, will get its world premiere in Toronto.  The three other newly announced special presentations…

The first industry speakers have been confirmed for Screen International’s ‘Financing the Future of UK Film’ summit, taking place on September 29 at the BFI Southbank in London. They include Ben Browning, co-CEO of Pathe UK, and president of global film. Browning joined the company this year, relocating to London from his role as president of motion pictures at FilmNation in Los Angeles to spearhead Pathe’s renewed focus on English-language filmmaking. Frederic Fiore, president of French production, sales and distribution company Logical Pictures Group, has also joined the lineup. The company’s second Logical Content Ventures fund recently backed Simon Woods’…