Bangladeshi Film ‘Suraiya’ Wins Prestigious Berlinale World Cinema Fund Grant

Bangladeshi feature film Suraiya has been awarded a major production grant from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund (WCF), placing it among a select group of global independent projects backed by one of the world’s leading film institutions. The announcement came following the WCF’s 42nd jury session, where twelve films from across Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mexico, Panama, Sudan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Venezuela were chosen for financial support. This year’s selection was made from 236 submissions representing 63 countries — underscoring the competitiveness of the process. Suraiya, directed by Robiul

Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton has passed away at 79

The Oscar-winning star, born in Los Angeles, rose to prominence in the 1970s thanks to her portrayal of Kay Adams-Corleone in The Godfather series. She went on to become widely recognised for leading roles in Father of the Bride, First Wives Club and Annie Hall, the latter earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978. Her death was confirmed to CBS News — the BBC’s US partner — by producer and longtime friend Dori Rath. Annie Hall also brought Keaton the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or

AI “Actress” Tilly Norwood Triggers Backlash in Hollywood

A new figure is making waves in Hollywood — but she isn’t human. Tilly Norwood, a fully AI-generated character created by Dutch actress and technologist Eline Van der Velden, is being positioned as cinema’s next rising star. Her creator claims that major talent agencies are already considering representing her, sparking an industry-wide debate over the future of acting and the ethics of synthetic performers. Norwood was developed through Van der Velden’s AI studio Xicoia, an offshoot of her production company Particle6. Soft-launched earlier this year on social media, Tilly currently has

One Battle After Another: Farewell to yesterday

Paul Thomas Anderson’s crazy amalgam of the film languages of the Coen brothers, Quentin Tarantino and himself sees the director reinventing himself. Despite some annoying moments, One Battle After Another is astonishingly contemporary and fun. ‘It is not an abyss that separates us from yesterday, but the changed situation’ – Alexander Kluge, Yesterday Girl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday_Girl) At first, there is simply irritation. Anyone who, like me, fell in love with Paul Thomas Anderson’s last two films because they represented the cinematic formula for great happiness is likely to be completely baffled, if not a

Hollywood Backs Ongoing “No Kings” Movement Against Trump

The nationwide “No Kings” protest movement continues to draw growing participation from across the United States, with actors and filmmakers once again joining demonstrators in major cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, during rallies held last Saturday. Organizers say the protests are aimed specifically at President Donald Trump and what they describe as his anti-democratic policies. Marchers carried placards denouncing political overreach and warning against the return of authoritarian-style leadership in American governance. Spike Lee shared an image from a New York rally, urging followers to “get up, stand up.” ' ...