‘Islands Of Insight’ is an open-world puzzle game inspired by neuroscience and beauty

Ben Croll Recently honored as one of Unifrance’s 10 to Watch, Franco-Moroccan filmmaker Sofia Alaoui will build on the rugged eeriness of her 2023 Sundance jury prize winner “Animalia” with “Tarfaya” – a slow-burn thriller that mines Morocco’s sweeping landscapes for ambient unease. Named for (and inspired by) a remote, coastal town on the country’s Saharan border, “Tarfaya” imagines a not-too-distant world of extreme atmospheric swings, of severe heat giving way to more intense storms, all while daily life trudges on.

Caroline Brew editor David F. Sandberg, known for “Annabelle: Creation,” “Shazam!” and “Lights Out,” will direct the film adaptation of the PlayStation horror video game “Until Dawn” by Screen Gems and PlayStation Productions. “It: Chapter Two” and “The Nun” screenwriter Gary Dauberman is doing the most recent pass on a script from “The Invitation” writer Blair Butler.

Dua Lipa has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged for world leaders to “take a stand” in a new interview.The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has continued into the new year, with over 24,000 people now having died on both sides, 23,469 of them Palestinian and 1,200 Israeli.Last year, Lipa joined the likes of Michael Stipe and Cate Blanchett in signing an open letter to President Joe Biden calling for a ceasefire and “an end to the bombing of Gaza and the safe release of hostages”.Speaking to Rolling Stone about her upcoming new album, Lipa reaffirmed her stance on the conflict, saying: “My existence is kind of political, the fact that I lived in London because my parents left from the war,” she said. “I feel for people who have to leave their home.

Taylor Swift knows a thing or two about being catnip.Indeed, the pop superstar worked all of her flirtatious feline wiles as Bombalurina in “Cats,” the much-maligned 2019 movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.But Swift had a different kind of kitty persuasion on “Argylle,” the upcoming spy thriller starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson and more.Director Matthew Vaughn (“Kick-Ass,” “X-Men: First Class” and the “Kingsman” films) says that it was the “Anti-Hero” singer who was “responsible” for the scene-stealing Scottish Fold cat featured in the film, which hits theaters Feb. 2.It all started when Vaughn’s two daughters with his supermodel wife, Claudia Schiffer, convinced their mother to buy them a Scottish Fold for Christmas after seeing Swift’s cat in her 2020 “Miss Americana” documentary.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg, one of Europe’s largest studio complexes, has revealed that its senior management has been rejigged. Recent movies to shoot at the studios include “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “The Matrix Resurrections.” Founded in 1912, Babelsberg is one of the oldest studios in the world.

Silent Witness star David Caves has returned to his beloved role as Jack Hodgson in the new series of the BBC crime drama. The series, which was first aired in 1996, follows a group of forensic scientists as they investigate ghastly crimes in a bid to catch those responsible. David, 44, has played the leading role of Jack since 2013 and in that time viewers have been invested in his romance with colleague Dr Nikki Alexander, played by Emilia Fox.

Diego Ramos Bechara editor Oscar-nominated costume designer April Ferry died Thursday, according to the Costume Designers Guild. She was 91.

Wetherspoons will open its first ever pub at a holiday park after signing a deal with Haven. The first on-site venue operated by the pub chain is set to open its doors at Haven Primrose Valley Holiday Park in North Yorkshire in March.

Prince Andrew has been spotted leaving his home as the pressure continues to grow on him as the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Jo Koy kicked off his first-ever Golden Globes hosting gig Sunday with a monologue that referenced the size of “Saltburn” star Barry Keoghan’s penis and Ozempic in front of top Hollywood talent, drawing a mixed response for his jokes. “Some I wrote, some other people wrote,” the standup comedian said after one of his lines fell a little flat.

Fugitive sex offender Nicholas Rossi roared and cried as he left jail to be put on a flight out of Scotland heading for the US. The 36-year-old was forced on to the plane after wrestling with staff on the tarmac with his trousers at his ankles.

More Jeffrey Epstein documents, more accusations against former presidents…

Selome Hailu Despite this year’s Thanksgiving viewing being down from the previous holiday, “Leo” and “Squid Game: The Challenge” kept viewers interested during the Nov. 20-26 viewing window according to Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10. Adam Sandler’s animated comedy opened at No.

Michael Jackson, Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton.The documents were previously contained in the private court documents, created after Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre filed a lawsuit against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, accusing her of being involved in the alleged sex trafficking activities.Prior to the names coming to light, those included in the papers were previously referred to as variants of J Doe.Epstein was arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking. He was found dead in his jail cell in August of that year, with authorities later determining that he hanged himself.Maxwell, Epstein’s partner, was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021, as well as other similar charges for procuring teenage girls for Epstein.

Naman Ramachandran Banijay Productions France is reviving hit reality format “Temptation Island” for French network W9, marking its return to the country after five years. “Temptation Island” sees couples at a crossroads in their relationship embark on a journey to test their commitment. Separated in two different beach resorts, the couples interact with a group of singles to determine if their love is strong enough to withstand the challenges they will encounter on the island.

It wouldn't be New Year's Eve without Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny on BBC Two. The show, which has aired for the past 30 years, has become a time-honoured tradition for many people as part of their end-of-year celebrations.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director The career of Scott Frank got a lengthy deep dive courtesy of a profile in The New Yorker that revealed the writer-director has a $300,000 weekly fee as a Hollywood script doctor. Frank acknowledges this fee is “insane,” but being a script doctor is how he’s made a life for himself despite being a credited screenwriter on films by Steven Soderbergh (“Out of Sight”), Barry Sonnenfield (“Get Shorty”), James Mangold (“The Wolverine,” “Logan”) and more.

Love Island finalist Paul Knops looks unrecognisable and completely different five years on from starring on the hit ITV2 dating show. Former reality star Paul found fame on the programme in 2018 when he finished in second place alongside Scottish beauty Laura Anderson. But things quickly turned sour when they decided to split and Paul accused the ex air hostess of moving on with Islander Max Morley "weeks" before he ended their romance.

The eagerly-anticipated second series of The Traitors begins on BBC One on January 3, with 22 contestants battling it out at a Scottish castle in the psychological game show that gripped viewers last year.

As the royal family’s foremost fashion icon, the Princess of Wales is often in the sartorial spotlight. Aided by assistant Natasha Archer, Kate has continued to evolve her style in recent years, and has impressed royal watchers with her outfit choices in 2023.