Locarno Repositions Itself as Forward-Thinking Filmmakers’ Hub

The dreaded post-merger Warner Bros. Discovery layoffs have reached the programming operation overseen by HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys.

Zsuzsi Bánkuti Appointed Head Of Locarno’s Open Doors

Locarno Film Festival, the film portraits an extended encounter between Herman (Jeb Berrier) and his son, Nate (Charlie Plummer). They grapple with their relationship against a vast landscape as they spend the day meandering across great meadows, trudging through a graveyard – navigating the intimate geographies of their own grief.

JD Linville Zurich native Caterina Mona will bring her directorial debut “Semret” to the 75th Locarno Film Festival where it screens at the city’s Piazza Grande, an outdoor venue traditionally reserved for more popular plays. The film, which is being sold by German sales outfit Pluto Film, follows the difficult path to healing for the titular character of Semret: a reclusive immigrant mother from Eritrea, now living and working in Zurich.

In the fallout of the #MeToo movement, with so many folks talking about sexual misconduct issues behind the scenes, one of the tangible solutions that have been made is the inclusion of intimacy coordinators on film and TV sets. These people are meant to ensure that actors involved in sex scenes are staying within boundaries and aren’t crossing any lines that would make people uncomfortable.

HBO Max and Discovery+ will merge to become one streaming service next year.In a second quarter earnings call on Thursday (August 4), Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav announced that the merged streamer will launch in the summer of 2023 in the US, with Latin America, Europe and other territories to follow soon after. The combined streaming service will be released with ad-free, ad-light and ad-only options.As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Zaslav addressed concerns that the merger would result in less emphasis on original programmes.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentThere’s a new giant in town, or at least at Locarno’s Match Me!, one of the festival’s biggest industry initiatives.For years, by a large head, France has had more titles at the Locarno Festival’s two biggest sections, the Piazza Grande showcase and main International Competition than any other country in the world. 2022 is no exception.Unifrance also hosts the Festival’s biggest industry bash, a first Friday night sit-down dinner or party which used to take place at Locarno’s hillside Belvedere Hotel and has now moved to the near Maggiore Lake-side Blu Restaurant.Now, however, Unifrance, Europe’s biggest national film-TV promotion board, has put its weight behind Match Me!, a networking initiative this year bringing together 32 emerging producers from over the world.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorThe Locarno Film Festival’s artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro, has rejected calls to ban Leon Prudovsky’s “My Neighbor, Adolf,” which world premieres Aug. 4 in Locarno’s Piazza Grande, after a controversy was sparked regarding its funding.

Naman Ramachandran A galaxy of stars paid fulsome tribute to filmmaker John McTiernan (“Die Hard,” “Predator”) and stuntman Vic Armstrong (the Indiana Jones, James Bond and Star Wars franchises) as they were both awarded Moving Target awards on Friday for their outstanding contributions to the action genre at the inaugural London Action Festival.The awards were presented at London’s Royal London Geographical Society and icons from the genre attended, including Corin Hardy (“Gangs of London”), composer David Arnold (“Casino Royale”) Robert Davi (“Die Hard”) and Edgar Wright (“Last Night in Soho”).Prominent film personalities who have worked with McTiernan and Armstrong conveyed their appreciation via video messages. Harrison Ford praised Armstrong, saying: “We’ve been doing this Vic for like 50 years! You’ve had the good sense to turn it into a directing job ‘cos this running, jumping and falling down thing is a game for the young guys.

 is back in action and in Colorado to give a full renovation to the small town of Fort Morgan.This season is set to be bigger and better than before, and to accomplish their ambitious goals,  stars Ben and Erin Napier are teaming up with  stars Dave and Jenny Marrs to bring a new look to the tight-knit community.ET's Lauren Zima was on site, and spoke with the show's hosts and dream makers about the enormous undertaking.«Over the next four months, we are going to help renovate business and homes,» Dave shared excitedly while talking about how they are going to be tackling a whopping 18 renovation projects — up from the 12 they did last season when working on the town of Wetumpka, Alabama.Ben said that their overhauling will bring new life to «community spaces all across this great town.»According to Dave, there will be «hundreds» of people, both hired contractors and townspeople, helping with the massive endeavor.«The town is literally pitching in,» Jenny added. «Everyone is involved, everyone's a part of this.»Fans will get to see the monumental project take place over six episodes, as the town comes together for a transformation of unprecedented proportions.Nestled just over an hour outside of Denver, Fort Morgan struggles to compete with the larger city's entertainment and shopping availability.

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana Spencer‘s tragic death in 1997. To commemorate her life, HBO and director Ed Perkins team up for “The Princess,” a new documentary about Diana’s life and death and the legacy she left behind.

Princess Diana’s tumultuous years in the spotlight have been captured in a new lens. On Wednesday, HBO released the first trailer for the upcoming documentary,, which will examine the media’s portrayal of the People’s Princess, from the time she was thrust into the spotlight as Prince Charles’ wife, to her time as a working royal and the aftermath of her untimely death. “The relationship of Diana and Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, was tabloid fodder for nearly two decades, the subject of almost daily headlines in the 24-hour news cycle,” the press release reads.

Princess Diana’s tumultuous years in the spotlight have been captured in a new lens. On Wednesday, HBO released the first trailer for the upcoming documentary,, which will examine the media’s portrayal of the People’s Princess, from the time she was thrust into the spotlight as Prince Charles’ wife, to her time as a working royal and the aftermath of her untimely death. “The relationship of Diana and Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, was tabloid fodder for nearly two decades, the subject of almost daily headlines in the 24-hour news cycle,” the press release reads.

Carson Burton “Indiana Jones 5” star Boyd Holbrook admits he’s feeling “a little bit” nervous about fan reaction to director James Mangold’s upcoming installment of the legendary action-adventure movie franchise.“It’s kind of like a childhood dream,” Holbrook told Variety at Monday’s red carpet premiere of “Vengeance” at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. “And you could feel a little bit of that pressure, but I try not to go down those roads. I really just focus on the job at hand.”Details about “Indiana Jones 5” have been kept under wraps.

reported that the show was still generating tourism for the Alabama town. «They did it in the right way,» said Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFilms from Maze Pictures, producer of Colin Firth-starrer “The Happy Prince,” and from Basis Berlin, behind Oscar-nominated doc feature “Of Father and Sons,” figure among the six pix in post to be highlighted at Locarno’s First Look on German Cinema, which is shaping up as one of the festival’s industry highlights.Maze and Basis Berlin will unveil what look on paper like the section’s biggest commercial plays: Drug scene drama “Three Lives Long” and Iran-set social thriller “Empty Nets.”First Look’s most classic art house play may be Milena Aboyan’s “Elaha,” a Kurd bride-to-be emancipation drama set in contemporary Germany.Two other titles have more of an indie tenor: Pan-Europe road movie “Arthur & Diana” and farewell dinner dramedy “One Last Evening.” “Life is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning” weighs in as an arch film essay from queer feminist activist Julia Fuhr.Five of the six works in progress are first features, making the First Look on German Cinema an effective new talent showcase. The directors, however, are not all totally German, three being born outside Germany – a sign of the welcome larger inclusivity and pulling power of today’s German film industry.Selected projects, none with a sales agent attached, will be awarded by a jury of major festival directors made up of Vanja Kaludjercic (International Film Festival Rotterdam), Tricia Tuttle (BFI London Film Festival) and HUH Moonyung (Busan International Film Festival).Awards take in the Cinegrell First Look Award, which consists of services towards the completion of films in post-production up to the value of €50,000 ($51,000). A brief drill-down on titles:“Arthur & Diana,” (Dir: Sara Summa.

HBO’s acclaimed drama series “Industry,” about the world of high finance trading and the young staffers thrust into this cutthroat world and having to adapt or die, returns to HBO and HBO Max on August 1. From creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, “Industry” gives an insider’s view of the blackbox of high finance, following a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sex and drug-fueled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co’s London office.

Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, and still has the window stickers to prove it.  It is being offered for sale by Hertfordshire-based collectible car specialists, Hilton & Moss. The character-filled coupe is being sold directly from Mr Oliver's private classic car collection, which reportedly includes a 1950s Land Rover Defender and a classic 1967 Ford Mustang that belongs to his wife, Jools.