Euthanasia, Holocaust, child education, illegal abortion, Nazi right-wing: the awards lineup at the 81st Venice Film Festival gives the impression that what convinced the jury, led by French actress Isabelle Huppert, were strong and provocative themes. Cinema with a conscience has truly found its home at the Lido. Another notable aspect is the prominent role of women: four out of the five female directors in competition walked away with prizes (the only exception being Italian filmmaker Giulia Louise Steigerwalt of [...]

Among the many productions competing at the Emmy Awards this year, Ripley stands out and is expected to triumph in multiple categories. This eight-episode series, directed by Steven Zaillian, revives the charming con-artist character created by Patricia Highsmith in the mid-50s and was filmed almost entirely in Italy The story unfolds across various Italian locations, including Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Naples, Anzio, Palermo, and Venice. “Overall, the experience of filming in Italy has been incredibly rewarding. The talent of [...]

Chick-fil-A is known for its chicken sandwiches and faith-driven principles, but the fast-food giant is making an unexpected leap into the entertainment world. The company has announced plans to launch its own streaming service, aiming to compete with major players like Netflix. This bold move marks a significant expansion beyond its traditional food business, raising curiosity across the industry. The upcoming streaming platform will cater to a family-oriented audience, consistent with Chick-fil-A’s values. The service, set to launch later this [...]

Telegram is grappling with increasing legal issues, following the arrest of its founder in France, and now facing scrutiny in South Korea. The South Korean police have initiated a preliminary investigation into Telegram's involvement in abetting sex crimes, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency. This move comes amid the country's efforts to address the growing spread of deepfake pornography, which primarily targets young women, including teenagers. This investigation marks another significant legal challenge for Telegram, whose founder and [...]

Disney is testing gamers’ appetite for Hollywood IP once again with Ubisoft's latest offering, Star Wars Outlaws. This AAA title, released on August 30th, follows the expiration of EA’s exclusive 10-year rights deal for the Star Wars franchise. Developed by Massive Entertainment, Outlaws ventures into open-world gameplay, echoing the style of Ubisoft’s popular franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Massive Entertainment, known for the 2023 release Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, faced lukewarm reception with its Avatar game despite the [...]

AI music startups Suno and Udio AI are facing a major lawsuit from top record labels, including Universal, Sony, and Warner, over copyright infringement claims. This case, seen as potentially precedent-setting for various creative industries, could either reinforce the labels' market dominance or significantly impact their assets and relevance to artists. Rather than seeking to dismiss the claims, Suno and Udio have chosen to move directly into the discovery phase, a bold strategy that could lead to high-stakes trials and [...]