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April 8, 2026
George Clooney Condemns Trump Over Iran War Threat: ‘If Anyone Says He Wants to End a Civilization, That’s a War Crime’
George Clooney, who has long been one of Hollywood’s most outspoken critics of Donald Trump, has slammed the U.S. president for threatening to erase “a whole civilization” unless Iran agreed to his...
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April 8, 2026
‘Milarepa,’ Drama Starring Harvey Keitel as a Buddhist Guru, Set to Open Boston International Film Festival
Italian director Louis Nero’s Buddhist sci-fi drama “Milarepa,” starring Harvey Keitel and F. Murray Abraham, will open the 24th Boston International Film Festival that runs April 9–14. Shot on the...
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April 7, 2026
Asghar Farhadi Calls on Filmmakers to Speak Out Against Escalation of Iran War: ‘Attacking a Country’s Infrastructure Is a War Crime’
Two-time Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has called on artists and filmmakers around the world to protest against the U.S. and Israel’s bombing of Iran to “prevent the destruction of ...
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April 7, 2026
Magnus Von Horn, Emanuel Pârvu, Felipe Gálvez, Carine Tardieu to Pitch Projects at Cannes’ Investors Circle
New works from prominent directors Magnus Von Horn (“The Girl with the Needle”), Emanuel Pârvu (“Three Kilometres to the End of the World”) and Felipe Gálvez (“The Settlers”), are among the eight p...
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April 7, 2026
Netflix Price Hikes Ruled Illegal by Italian Court That Says Consumers Should Get Refunds; Streamer Will Appeal
A Rome court has ruled that Netflix price hikes in Italy are illegal. The decision sides with a consumer advocacy group which claims the streaming giant broke local rules by raising prices to its s...
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April 3, 2026
Saudi-Owned Broadcaster MBC Teases Postponed TV Series ‘Embassy 87’ About Saudi Diplomats Held Hostage in Iran
Saudi-owned Middle East broadcaster MBC has unveiled plans to air a high-end TV series titled “Embassy 87” shot in 2022 – that it had previously seemingly shelved – about Saudi diplomats who were h...
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April 2, 2026
Andrew Mohsen Appointed El Gouna Film Festival Artistic Director, Replacing Marianne Khoury
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival has appointed Andrew Mohsen as its new artistic director for the fest’s ninth edition, which will run Oct. 15-23. Mohsen will replace Egyptian filmmaker Marianne Khou...
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April 2, 2026
Isabel Coixet’s ‘Three Goodbyes’ to Open Revamped Istanbul Film Festival
Isabel Coixet’s Rome-set drama “Three Goodbyes,” starring Italian A-listers Alba Rorhwacher and Elio Germano, will open the 45th Istanbul Film Festival that will run April 9-19. The festival — whi...
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April 1, 2026
‘The Last One for the Road’ Leads Italy’s David Awards Nominations, Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘La Grazia’ Also a Frontrunner
Francesco Sossai’s sophomore feature “The Last One for the Road,” which launched from Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, is the surprise frontrunner for Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, the country’s top...
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March 31, 2026
Cinecittà Bounces Back With $1.2 Million Profit in 2025 as Hollywood Shoots With Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson and More Flock to Revamped Rome Studios
Italy’s Cinecittà Studios are back in the black with a small but significant €1.1 million ($1.2 million) operating profit for the fiscal year of 2025, it was announced on Tuesday just as three big ...
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March 31, 2026
Disney+ Signs Deal With Italian State Broadcaster RAI, in Latest Similar Agreement With Leading European Public Networks
Disney+ and Italian state broadcaster RAI on Tuesday signed a deal under which a selection of popular RAI unscripted and scripted shows will play on Disney+ alongside its slate of global movies and...
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March 30, 2026
Jane Campion to Preside Over Jury at Italy’s Taormina Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
Jane Campion will preside over the jury of Italy’s upcoming Taormina Film Festival that will run June 10-14 in the Sicilian sea resort. Having a jury headed by the director — who is a two-time Acad...
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March 27, 2026
Netflix Loses First Round in Battle Against EU Rules Requiring Streamers to Fund Local Productions
The Constitutional Court of Belgium has rejected a legal challenge by Netflix, which had appealed against the implementation of European Union rules that require streaming platforms to fund local p...
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March 27, 2026
Alexander Kluge, New German Cinema Pioneer, Dies at 94
German filmmaker Alexander Kluge, who pioneered the 1960s New German Cinema movement and won the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion in 1968 with “The Artists in the Big Top: Perplexed,” has died. H...
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March 26, 2026
Turkish TV Series ‘Vendetta’ Expands Global Footprint With Sales Reaching 70 Countries
Turkish TV series “Vendetta,” about a couple who are forced into marriage to end a blood feud between their families, is becoming a global hit, having expanded its footprint to over 70 territories ...
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March 26, 2026
Aurelio De Laurentiis to Bow Napoli Soccer Doc in U.S. With L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Expected to Attend
Italian producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, nephew of late great movie mogul Dino De Laurentiis, on Thursday will host the U.S. premiere of “Ag4in” a doc chronicling the SSC Napoli soccer club’s fourth...
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March 26, 2026
Locarno Retrospective Titled ‘Red and Black – Hollywood Left and the Blacklist’ Will Focus on ‘Fierce Artistic Resistance’
The Locarno Film Festival’s upcoming edition will feature an extensive retro focused on the infamous Hollywood Blacklist, one of the U.S. entertainment industry’s darkest chapters. Titled “Red &...
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March 24, 2026
Celine Sciamma, Robin Campillo, Zackary Drucker Set For Rome’s Frocinema Queer Film Festival
Rome’s emerging Frocinema film festival dedicated to queer cinema is raising its international profile having secured several big names for its upcoming third edition that will feature an extended ...
variety.com
March 24, 2026
Box Office in Arab Countries ‘Resilient’ Despite Iran Conflict, Indicating Wartime Moviegoing Trend (EXCLUSIVE)
As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war enters its fourth week, amid air strikes that comprise Gulf states and Lebanon, early indications are that the conflict’s impact on moviegoing in the affected Arab count...
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March 20, 2026
Is a Disney Theme Park in Abu Dhabi Still Going Ahead Despite Middle East Mayhem?
As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war reaches the three-week mark and Iranian military forces step up attacks against its Arab neighbors — even threatening to target recreational areas and tourist sites — th...
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March 20, 2026
‘Assassin’s Creed’ Netflix Series Reveals Ancient Rome Setting and Additional Cast as Shooting Starts in Italy
Netflix’s live-action “Assassin’s Creed” series will be an original story set in Rome in 64 A.D., the streamer revealed on Friday. The hotly anticipated series, directed by Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”...
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March 19, 2026
‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Censored in India Amid Fears Theatrical Release ‘Would Break Up the India-Israel Relationship’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The Indian theatrical release of Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated feature “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which was planned for this month, is being blocked by the country’s Central Board of Film Ce...
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March 19, 2026
Doha Film Institute Unveils Projects Set for Qumra Event That Has Moved Online Due to Iran War
The Doha Film Institute’s Qumra Arab film industry incubator — which has been scrapped as a physical event and moved online due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war — has unveiled the 49 projects fr...
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March 18, 2026
Peter Thiel Sparks Vatican Ire With Antichrist Lectures in Rome
Silicon valley titan Peter Thiel is drawing fire from the Vatican and Italian media by holding a series of lectures on the Antichrist in Rome that are reminiscent of the “South Park” episode in whi...
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March 18, 2026
Prime Video and Germany’s Leonine Studios Extend Partnership With New Multi-Year Deal That Includes ‘The Housemaid,’ ‘The Hunger Games – Sunrise on the Reaping’
Prime Video and Germany’s Leonine Studios have extended their partnership in Germany and Austria with a new multi-year deal that includes premium titles “The Housemaid,” “The Drama” and “The Hunger...
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March 17, 2026
Bruce LaBruce and ‘Castration Movie’ Director Louise Weard to Be Honored by Italy’s Sicilia Queer Filmfest
Canadian filmmakers Bruce LaBruce and Louise Weard, both known for pushing boundaries in the LGBTQ film space, are set to be honored by Italy’s Sicilia Queer Filmfest that will run in Palermo from ...
variety.com
March 16, 2026
Middle East Broadcaster MBC Group Posts 28.5% Revenue Jump as Streaming Side Expands
Leading Middle East broadcaster MBC Group reported a 28.5% year-on-year increase in revenue to SR 5.4 billion ($1.43 billion) for the full fiscal year 2025, and an 8.1% yearly net profit to SR 437....
variety.com
March 16, 2026
Norway Cheers Its First Oscar for Best International Feature Film With Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ as ‘Historic Moment’
Norway is ecstatic about the country’s first Oscar for best international feature with Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value.” The film, Trier’s sixth feature and follow-up to “The Worst Person in the...
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March 13, 2026
‘Iyanu’ Creator Roye Okupe on Combining Anime and Afrobeats in Next Project ‘Malika: Warrior Queen’: ‘We Are Really Blowing the Doors Open’
Nigerian-born, U.S.-based author and director Roye Okupe is on a roll with the second season of his animated superhero series “Iyanu” launching March 21, just as he sets his sights on his next big ...
variety.com
March 12, 2026
Influential Casting Director Bonnie Timmermann Set for Career Honor From Italy’s Biografilm Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
Pioneering U.S. casting director Bonnie Timmermann — known for changing the face of Hollywood film and television by imposing diversity and discovering a multitude of talents — will be honored by I...
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