Continental Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Cairo-based African Export-Import Bank, also known as Afreximbank, is gearing up to launch a $1B African Film Fund in 2024 to support the continent’s burgeoning film industry.

Lionsgate revenue jumped to over $1 billion in the latest quarter, up from $858 million, driven by a nearly 80% jump in the motion picture division.

Manchester City became the quickest side to reach 250 Champions League goals during their convincing 3-0 win over BSC Young Boys on Tuesday evening.

“Unfair and coercive” buyout practices are putting creatives at “a considerable risk” and legislation must be implemented to stop them, a collective of authors rights groups has said.

Halloween might be over - but it doesn't feel like it.

Kendrick Lamar's company pgLang is working with Global Citizen to establish a touring circuit across Africa. pgLang has committed to curating annual Move Afrika shows for the next five years, starting with a Lamar headline show in Rwanda on December 6. When major U.S.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The philanthropic organization Global Citizen is teaming up with Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s company, pgLang, in an ambitious effort to establish a major music touring circuit across Africa. A kickoff event, “Move Afrika: Rwanda,” will take place Dec. 6 with the hip-hop superstar as the headliner.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Leading European artists, including Maria Choustova (“Donbass”), Sergei Loznitsa (“Donbass”), Pawel Lozinski (“Film balkonowy”) and Radu Jude (“Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn”), have taken a stand to support the Israeli film community as it seeks to rally voices and help free over 220 hostages in Gaza. These names penned a heartfelt letter addressing the resurgence of antisemitism across Europe and the significant part that European artists must play in raising the alarm. The letter will be sent to the European Film Academy with a request to circulate it among its 3,000 members ahead of the European Film Awards ceremony on Dec.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “House of the Dragon” Season 2 will premiere next summer on HBO, network chief Casey Bloys announced during a press event Thursday. At the media presentation, the first trailer for the second season screened exclusively for members of the media, who are not allowed to report details about the contents of the footage. Bloys previously told Variety that HBO was targeting a Summer 2024 premiere for the second season.

EXCLUSIVE: Grammy award-winning Afrobeats artist Mr Eazi has signed on to headline the forthcoming fifth season of The Change Africa Podcast from Nexa Media. 

Christopher Vourlias When director Yorgos Lanthimos approached production designers James Price and Shona Heath with a vision for his latest feature, “Poor Things,” the Venice sensation and Golden Lion winner that’s landed the filmmaker and lead actress Emma Stone at the forefront of this year’s Oscar race, the notoriously meticulous and demanding director had no shortage of notes for the duo. Nor did he have any reservations about the scale of what he wanted to achieve.

A hotel in Blackpool has officially be named the best luxury hotel on the continent after picking up the accolade at a prestigious hotel awards. BLVD Hotel took home the gong for Best Luxury Hotel in Northern Europe at the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

For the descendants of Elijah Reels, an area of coastal North Carolina in Carteret County has been their sanctuary – where they could raise their families, earn a living, and enjoy the bounty and the pleasures of the waterways. 

Rudie Obias editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” based on the very popular video game series will get a simultaneous release in theaters and streamers this week. Starting on Oct.

If you can believe it, it's just two weeks to go until the Manchester Christmas Markets make their grand return - and the full list of market traders has been revealed. The annual festive event, which sees Manchester's streets and squares filled with wooden huts and festive cheer will launch on Friday, November 10, and will open daily until Thursday, December 21 across nine different "zones".

Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo turned back the clock on Tuesday night as he inspired Al Nassr to a 4-3 AFC Champions League victory over Philippe Coutinho's Qatari side Al Duhail.

You can’t ignore the signs that winter is on its way: big coats have been fetched from the depths of the wardrobe, evenings are growing darker and de-misting the car windscreen is becoming a daily habit. After the glorious long and sunny (well sometimes sunny) days of summer, it can all feel rather depressing.

: As of October 17, there is effectively a ban on glitter in Europe.Now that the European Commission's microplastics restriction went into effect, is banned, including those used in cosmetics and detergents. The goal is to find more to microplastics in order to reduce ocean pollution.

Africa is one of the fastest growing continents on the planet so it’s no wonder that global streamers have viewed the vast territory as the last frontier of growth in recent years. A young population coupled with a growing middle class and increasing internet connectivity (albeit the latter very slowly) has seen companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Canal+ battle it out with more established local players such as MultiChoice’s SVoD platform Showmax.

EXCLUSIVE: Peacock is touting the success of The Continental: From the World of John Wick.

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has heaped praise on Jess Park, Ruby Mace and Julie Blackstad following their impressive start to the season.

Ben Croll Introduced last year, MIA’s dedicated animation program heads into its sophomore edition with a more firmly entrenched industry position and a resoundingly global outlook. With the program scaffolding already in place, MIA curators spent the past year shoring up support and scouting for projects at key markets in Berlin, Cannes and Annecy, resulting in a program of roughly 30 co-production pitch projects and works-on-progress that altogether spans more than 40 countries.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Ireland’s Deadpan Pictures (“Northern Lights”) and France’s Thalie Images (“Killer Coaster”) are teaming up on “The Continental Method,” an ambitious spy comedy thriller set against the backdrop of the Paris riots of May 1968. The European half-hour series is inspired by the true story of Conor O’Flaherty, a fresh-faced Irish salesman who became an unlikely spy in Paris. The twelve-part show is penned by John Morton (“Dead Still”) and Victor Lockwood (“Mental”) who are leading a writing team.

Naman Ramachandran A total of 39 European companies, surpassing 2022, will promote and sell films from the continent at Busan International Film Festival‘s accompanying Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM). Of these, 32 will be onsite while seven more will participate online.

The 2030 men’s football World Cup will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with one match each taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, FIFA announced on Wednesday.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has revealed opting to not play abroad during his playing career remains one of his biggest regrets.

UEFA has moved to deny reports coming out of Spain claiming that the football authority has been working on plans to introduce a three-division Super League.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Paramount+ has unveiled three new Korean TV shows which it will launch in selected international territories including North America, the U.K. and parts of continental Europe.

A pioneer of Manchester's nightlife, Henry's Cafe Bar promised to add a little 'excitement' to the lives of its customers.

Jordan Moreau The “John Wick” movies are known for their high-octane, guns-blazing action on the big screen, but now the franchise is heading to Peacock — and about 50 years in the past — to explore its origins in “The Continental.” Across three episodes, the ’70s-set series dives into how a young Winston Scott (played by Colin Woodell) became the proprietor of the titular hotel, which is famous for throwing lavish parties and being a safe haven for assassins. But, as “John Wick” fans know, not everybody abides by the no-killing rule on Continental grounds. The show, which premieres on Peacock Friday, starts with a bang — actually, a lot of them — thanks to stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall.