58th Directors’ Fortnight Lineup of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight has unveiled its 58th edition, featuring 19 feature films and nine shorts from 19 countries across five continents. The slate blends six debut features with five documentaries and five animated titles, spotlighting both established auteurs like Kantemir Balagov and emerging voices such as July Jung. Opening with Balagov’s English‑language debut *Butterfly Fly* and closing with Quentin Dupieux’s animated *The Vertigo*, the program underscores Cannes’ commitment to global diversity. Claire Denis will receive the Carrosse d’Or award during the opening ceremony.
6 Key Takeaways From the 2026 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection
The 79th Cannes Film Festival has released its official selection, revealing a pronounced shift in the global film landscape. Spanish cinema dominates the competition with twelve of the twenty slots, while Hollywood’s presence shrinks to just two entries, marking a...
CinemaNext Sells US Operations, Pivots Focus Back to European Market
CinemaNext has completed the sale of its U.S. arm, formerly Sonic Equipment Company, and its manufacturing subsidiary Kneisley Manufacturing to Strong Technical Services. The transaction ends CinemaNext's five‑year foray into the American cinema‑technology market. Proceeds and strategic refocusing will allow...
From 'Les Légendaires' To 'Lucy Lost': Are Adaptations the New Engine of French Animation?
French animation studios are increasingly turning to adaptations of comics, novels, and video games to secure financing and global distribution. Flagship projects such as the TV series "Les Légendaires" and the upcoming film "Lucy Lost" illustrate how recognizable IPs attract...
Madfabulous Review
Madfabulous, a British historical drama directed by Celyn Jones, debuted at BFI Flare and will open in cinemas in June. The film follows Henry, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, played by Callum Scott Howells, as he defies Victorian expectations with...
First Trailer and Poster for Supernatural Thriller PASSENGER
André Øvredal’s latest supernatural thriller, Passenger, debuted its first trailer and poster this week. The film follows a couple whose road‑trip spirals into terror after a demonic presence called the Passenger latches onto them. Starring Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell and...
The Legend of Zelda Movie: Will It Be on Netflix Globally? What We Know So Far
Nintendo’s live‑action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda is set for a worldwide theatrical debut on May 7 2027, co‑produced by Sony Pictures. A new global Pay‑1 agreement between Sony and Netflix guarantees the film will appear on the streaming platform roughly...
“MOTHER MARY”
David Lowery’s new film “Mother Mary” pairs Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel in a gothic‑styled drama about a fallen pop star seeking redemption through a former costume designer. The movie blends moody visuals with original synth‑pop tracks penned by Jack...
Cavalier Vies with Fresh Talents in Directors’ Fortnight by Richard Mowe - 2026-04-14 12:46:11+00:00
The 58th Cannes Directors’ Fortnight unveiled a vibrant slate of 19 feature films and nine shorts from 19 countries, spotlighting both emerging voices and seasoned auteurs. Highlights include 94‑year‑old Alain Cavalier’s final documentary *Thanks For Coming*, Kantemir Balagov’s English‑language debut *Butterfly Jam* opening the program,...
First Look at ‘Office Romance’ Starring Jennifer Lopez & Brett Goldstein
Netflix unveiled the first look for its upcoming romantic comedy "Office Romance," starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. The film, directed by Ol Parker, follows two workaholics whose secret office affair spirals into career‑threatening chaos. An ensemble cast that includes...
The Podcast: Pixar in the 2020s
The latest episode of Tim Brayton’s podcast examines Pixar’s 30‑film milestone with Hoppers and critiques the studio’s recent slate, which has struggled to match the box‑office and critical heights of earlier hits. Hosts Zev and Cameron contextualize Pixar’s output alongside...
New to Netflix - NEVER LET GO
Alexandre Aja’s new Netflix horror ‘Never Let Go’ stars Halle Berry as a mother who isolates her twin sons in a remote cabin, convinced an external evil threatens them. The twins, played by Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins, grapple with...
First Trailer and Poster for INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER
The first trailer and poster for *Insidious: Out of the Further* have been released, confirming a summer 2026 UK and ROI launch on August 21. Writer‑director Jacob Chase returns to helm the seventh installment, introducing Amelia Eve as Gemma, a mother...
Laura Osnes, Ryan McPartlin, Chuck Wicks, Julia Reilly, Tanya Christiansen, and D.B. Sweeney Lead All-Star Cast in "Silver Bells at...
Great American Media announced the production of "Silver Bells at Christmas," a family‑friendly holiday film starring Broadway star Laura Osnes, sitcom actor Ryan McPartlin, country singer Chuck Wicks, and several other recognizable faces. The movie, set in Comfort, Ohio, follows...
YouTube, AI, and Hollywood: A Platform War for the Future of Entertainment
YouTube is rapidly evolving into a major entertainment platform, propelled by AI tools that give user‑generated content a professional polish. In his 2026 annual letter, CEO Neal Mohan disclosed that more than 1 million channels now employ AI‑enhanced workflows for creation,...
Steven Soderbergh Twice Pitched James Bond Projects
Oscar‑winning director Steven Soderbergh revealed he pitched two separate James Bond concepts to producer Barbara Broccoli. The first, in 2008, was a radical R‑rated, 1960s‑set parallel franchise with a different actor and universe. Years later, after Skyfall, he offered a...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Normal” Star Bob Odenkirk And Director Ben Wheatley
"Normal" is a 2025 American action film directed by Ben Wheatley, written by Derek Kolstad and co‑created with star Bob Odenkirk, who also leads the cast alongside Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. The movie premiered in the Midnight Madness slot...
Why Steven Spielberg Fought to Keep 'E.T.' A Standalone Film
Steven Spielberg refused to greenlight a sequel to his 1982 classic "E.T.: The Extra‑Terrestrial," using a contractual clause known as “the freeze” that he earned after the film’s massive box‑office success. He and screenwriter Melissa Mathison even drafted a dark...
Critics' Week Announces Titles by Amber Wilkinson - 2026-04-13 20:12:33+00:00
Cannes Critics' Week unveiled its 2026 lineup, featuring 11 titles that spotlight first‑ and second‑time directors. The opening slot is historic, with the animated adaptation In Waves – a love story between a skateboarder and a surfer – marking the...
Steven Spielberg Confirms Finanical Reasonings for Robopocalypse Cancellation
Steven Spielberg revealed that the planned adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse was shelved because its projected budget would have been "gargantuan" and could have bankrupted the studio. DreamWorks, which had been financing the film, refused to shoulder the cost, and other...
How Lord & Miller Are Bringing the Director’s Commentary Back to the Big Screen
TheaterEars has launched "Director's Ears," a mobile platform that lets moviegoers listen to synchronized director commentary while watching a film in the theater. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller recorded the first such track for the sci‑fi release Project Hail Mary,...
A (Pre-CinemaCon) Noon Newsletter
The pre‑CinemaCon Noon Newsletter spotlights three franchise developments: a new trailer for the Hunger Games prequel "Sunrise on the Reaping," Spyglass’s strategic hire of a veteran writer to helm Scream 8, and speculation over whether a Devil Wears Prada 2 will feel...
The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Bunnylovr” Filmmaker And Star Katarina Zhu
The Next Best Picture Podcast features an interview with Katarina Zhu, writer‑director‑star of the 2025 drama "Bunnylovr." The film, Zhu’s directorial debut, follows a Chinese‑American cam girl entangled in a toxic client relationship while reconciling with her dying father. It...
The Paramount Question Isn’t Paramount
Paramount Skydance Corp. agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for roughly $110 billion in cash, valuing the target at $31 per share. The deal has drawn political and regulatory attention, yet antitrust concerns appear muted because the combined entity faces strong...
Magic Mirror: Guy Maddin Interviews Caroline Golum on Revelations of Divine Love
Canadian surrealist Guy Maddin sat down with director Caroline Golum to discuss her 14th‑century‑set film *Revelations of Divine Love*, which dramatizes Julian of Norwich’s visionary text. The film, built with handcrafted miniatures, foam sets and a digital Quay Brothers title,...
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” World Premiere to Livestream on Hulu & Disney+
Disney announced that the world premiere of 20th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” will be live‑streamed on Disney+ and Hulu on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. ET. The event, held at New York’s Lincoln Center, will feature the film’s star‑studded cast—including Meryl...
Dacre Montgomery On Lack Of Power Rangers Sequels
Dacre Montgomery, who played the Red Ranger in the 2017 Lionsgate reboot of *Power Rangers*, explained why the film never spawned sequels. The movie cost roughly $100‑105 million and grossed $142.5 million worldwide, falling short of the studio’s profit targets. Montgomery noted...
Grief and Mystery Collide in Trailer for Indie Noir I’ve Seen All I Need to See
A new trailer for the indie noir *I’ve Seen All I Need to See* showcases a ghost‑story‑infused, non‑linear drama about an actor confronting her sister’s violent death. The film, written and directed by Zeshaan Younus, has already secured the Grand...
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week Lineup
The 65th Cannes Critics’ Week unveiled eleven films, opening with Phuong Mai Nguyen’s animated debut “In Waves,” the first animated feature ever to lead the section. The competition mixes first‑time directors with sophomore efforts, including Blerta Basholli’s highly anticipated “Dua”...
Akira Review
Akira, the 1988 cyber‑punk anime by Katsuhiro Otomo, remains a visual benchmark, having been crafted with 160,000 hand‑drawn cels over just three years. Its neon‑lit Neo‑Tokyo and iconic bike slide continue to inspire modern media, from The Matrix to Jordan...
Cannes: Behind the Palme D’Or 2026
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 showcases a eclectic slate, with out‑of‑competition titles ranging from Antonin Baudry’s two‑part Charles de Gaulle biopic to Andy Garcia’s self‑written noir "Diamond." Emerging auteur Sandra Wollner returns to Un Certain Regard with the surreal thriller...
California Schemin’ Builds Its Story on Bluffing, Then Reveals Why Real Life Is Different From Games
California Schemin’ follows two Scottish friends who pose as Californian rappers, using a poker‑style bluff to launch their careers. The film uses the thrill of the deception to examine how bluffing works within games versus everyday life, where there are...
Kidnapping, Secrets and Romance Collide in First Look at Ester Expósito’s Drawn Together
Prime Video unveiled a first look at *Drawn Together*, a Spanish‑language thriller starring Ester Expósito and Hugo Diego García. The film follows a wealthy young woman kidnapped and later released, who is assigned a bodyguard, sparking a tense romance amid...
Trailer – “The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping”
Lionsgate has unveiled the trailer for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping,” a prequel set 24 years before the original series. The film, starring Joseph Zada, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes and other notable actors, is slated for a November...
Millie Bobby Brown’s Perfect Scrapped; Star Drops Out
Netflix has halted development of the Millie Bobby Brown‑led sports biopic "Perfect" after the actress withdrew over creative differences. Brown was set to portray 1996 Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, with Cate Shortland directing and Ronnie Sandahl writing. The project had progressed...
The Blue Trail Review
Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro’s dystopian drama *The Blue Trail* follows 77‑year‑old Tereza, a single mother forced into state‑run elder care after a mandatory retirement law is lowered from 80 to 75. The film juxtaposes bureaucratic loss of agency with the...
Wasteman
"Wasteman," a Sunrise Films prison thriller directed by Cal McMau, centers on Taylor (David Johnsson), a long‑term inmate whose early release is jeopardized by a volatile new cellmate, Dee (Tom Blyth). The film distinguishes itself by interspersing raw, vertically‑oriented mobile‑phone...
Interview: Director Olivier Assayas On Why There’s “Nothing Russian” In The Wizard Of The Kremlin
The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas, opens in UK cinemas on April 17, 2026. Adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s novel, the film follows fictional spin‑doctor Vadim Baranov’s rise alongside a KGB agent resembling Vladimir Putin. Assayas emphasizes that the story...
“Life Is Never Black and White – It’s a Kaleidoscope”: Agnieszka Grochowska on Brother at Kinoteka Film Festival 2026
Polish drama *Brother* premiered at London’s Kinoteka Polish Film Festival 2026, offering a gritty portrait of a working‑class family under pressure. The film follows 14‑year‑old Dawid as he protects his younger brother while coping with an absent father and a...
The Overlook Film Festival 2026 Review - PARASOMNIA
James Ross II’s feature debut *Parasomnia* reimagines sleep‑disorder horror with a fresh mythos. The film follows Riley, a trauma‑scarred woman haunted by a dream‑entity called the Seer, who resurfaces every ten years to claim victims. Ross II blends Voodoo motifs and a...
Stay-at-Home Seven: April 13 to 19 by Amber Wilkinson, Jennie Kermode
The Eye For Film column for April 13‑19 spotlights a mix of international thrillers, indie gems and classic blockbusters across streaming and broadcast platforms. Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Oscar‑nominated political thriller *The Secret Agent* arrives on MUBI, while the Scottish indie *Beats* debuts on...
Impact of Hong Kong Filmart 2026
Hong Kong Filmart 2026 reaffirmed its status as Asia’s premier film market, drawing producers, distributors, financiers and streaming platforms to negotiate theatrical, TV and digital rights. The event showcased a surge in hybrid dealmaking, blending in‑person negotiations with secure virtual...
The Blue Trail | Movie Review
Gabriel Mascaro’s new film *The Blue Trail* follows 77‑year‑old Tereza on a daring quest to fly before a forced relocation to the mysterious Colony. Set against Brazil’s Amazon rainforests, the story blends a subtle dystopian bureaucracy with vivid, mythic visuals....
Colours of Time | Movie Review
Cédric Klapisch’s new film *Colours of Time* weaves two timelines—a 19th‑century Parisian art scene and a present‑day family gathering in Normandy—using art as a subtle backdrop rather than the focal point. The story follows ancestor Adèle’s quest for a vanished...
No Room for Love (2026) by Maria Luna Kamradt and Randal Kamradt Short Film Review
"No Room for Love" is a 90‑minute feature compiled from the Kamradts’ 2024 four‑episode TV series and premiered at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in Mountain View. The story follows Filipino‑American cousins chasing show‑biz dreams in Los Angeles, highlighting...
Linka Linka (2025) by Kangdrun Film Review
Kangdrun’s debut feature "Linka Linka" is screening at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, marking the Tibetan director’s first full‑length entry after a successful short‑film run. The story follows Samgyi, a filmmaker who returns to Lhasa to confront childhood trauma...
PH-1 - Jennie Kermode - 20297
Jennie Kermode’s review of the thriller PH‑1 calls it a serviceable but unoriginal film that leans on outdated plot devices. The story follows Payton Burnham, who answers a mysterious blackmail call and repeatedly makes poor decisions, eroding suspense. While the...
Box Office: 'Super Mario Galaxy' Plays With Power, 'Drama' Captures Zeitgeist, 'Project Hail Mary' Tops $500M, 'Faces of Death' Dies
Universal’s *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* posted a $69 million North American haul in its second weekend, a 48% decline from the opening frame, bringing its 12‑day domestic total to $308.12 million. By contrast, the original *Super Mario Bros. Movie* earned $92 million in...
Reclaiming Dragons (2025) by Yeung Xiang Yu Short Film Review
“Reclaiming Dragons,” the directorial debut of Rotterdam‑based Yeung Xiang Yu, premiered at the Cinemasia festival. The short follows Ami, a Chinese‑Dutch office worker who retreats into a vivid AI‑generated virtual world that blurs with her real life. Through striking visual...
Sudah (2025) by Aldo Agaatsz Short Film Review
Aldo Agaatsz’s short film Sudah follows Senna, a Dutch‑born woman who travels to Manado to uncover her Indonesian roots, spotlighting a rare Christian community in a Muslim‑majority country. The story unfolds around a family dinner, using food and religious rituals...