Category Archives: Variety

Applause Entertainment, Story TV Team for Premium Microdrama Slate in India (EXCLUSIVE)
Applause Entertainment, the Aditya Birla Group content studio behind “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story” and “Criminal Justice,” has struck an exclusive partnership with India...
Naman Ramachandran Mar 17, 2026

Malaysia’s FINAS Unveils $76 Million Rebate Renewal at FilMart, Targets Role as Southeast Asia Production Hub
Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation, known as FINAS, used a showcase session at Hong Kong FilMart on Tuesday to announce that the Malaysian government has approved a RM300 million (...
Naman Ramachandran Mar 17, 2026

Arte President Bruno Patino Issues Industry-Wide Alert: AI Has Now Pushed Us Into a ‘Relationship Economy,’ the Only Way Forward Is ‘Coalition’
Amongst growing conversation on conglomeration, the shifting landscape of global media and restrained freedom of speech, the leading documentary festival CPH:DOX chose "Media Sovereignty: Rethink, Env...
Rafa Sales Ross Mar 17, 2026

Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films, Prime Video Team for Comedy ‘Mess’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Prime Video India and HRX Films have unveiled “Mess,” a comedy feature that brings together the streaming service and the Roshan family’s production banner for the second time, after...
Naman Ramachandran Mar 17, 2026

‘Forbidden Fruits’ Review: The Salesgirls Are Witches in a Depraved Satirical Thriller That’s Like ‘Mean Girls’ Meets ‘The Craft’ Touched With Something Darker
If you see one spicy depraved satirical thriller this year that's a cross between "Mean Girls" and "The Craft" and something far darker, by all means make that movie "Forbidden Fruits."
Owen Gleiberman Mar 17, 2026

Jimmy Kimmel on How the Oscars Are Held in a Mall: ‘Last Night, Barbra Streisand Was This Close to a Hot Topic Store’
Jimmy Kimmel has hosted the Oscars four times, and his “Jimmy Kimmel Live” studio is right across the street from the Dolby Theatre. So he’s especially well equipped to break the new...
Varietyschneider Mar 17, 2026

Kiki Shepard, ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ Co-Host, Dies at 74
Kiki Shepard, the co-host of the long-running variety show "Showtime at the Apollo," died on Monday from a heart attack. She was 74. Shepard's death was confirmed via her rep. From 1987-2002, Shepard ...
Jack Dunn Mar 16, 2026

‘Basic’ SXSW Review: Ashley Park and Leighton Meester Bond Over Toxic Relationship Anxieties in a Charming Rom-Com
"Basic" is a zany, heartrending short-turned-feature centered on two women carrying deep seated relationship insecurities that's far more complex than its pithy title suggests. Writer-director Chelsea...
Courtney Howard Mar 16, 2026

Jon Stewart Says ‘Opera and Ballet Have Defeated Timothée Chalamet’ After Misty Copeland’s Oscars Performance: ‘No Contest! A Knockout!’
On this week’s episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart weighed in on Timothe Chalamet's viral take-down of ballet and opera. "As you are well aware, a terrible war has been raging for two weeks...
Jack Dunn Mar 16, 2026

Chinese Auteur Jia Zhangke Wraps Short Film in Italy, Talks AI at Asian Film Awards Masterclass
Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke has finished shooting a short film in Italy, commissioned and produced by Carlo Chatrian, director of the National Museum of Cinema in Turin. Jia ("Still Life", "A Touch of ...
Carolehorst Mar 16, 2026