AI, Manga, More Toys, Cinema Revival Among Key Trends in Kids Entertainment in 2024, MipJunior Audience Told

Taylor Swift is extending The Eras Tour once again!

Thania Garcia Taylor Swift will be taking her “Eras Tour” to Vancouver next December. The singer has added three dates at the BC Place in British Columbia on Dec. 6, 7, and 8, with Gracie Abrams standing as the opening act.

A move to Saudi Arabia is looking increasingly likely for Jadon Sancho if he leaves Manchester United in January, according to reports.

Mark Schilling Japan Correspondent Boys’ Love, or ‘BL’ as it is also known, was once a minor and lightly regarded type of Japanese manga catering mainly to female fans, delivering stories of handsome young guys falling in love with each other. Now its popularity has spread beyond Japan to much of East Asia and beyond, while metamorphozing into a film, TV and online genre with millions of fans. Just how big BL has become was evident in a Wednesday TIFFCOM seminar on the BL phenomenon in Thailand: Beyond Borders: Exploring the Global Appeal and Diversity of Thailand’s Boys’ Love Contents. The eleven speakers, including an official from the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in Japan, vigorously pitched partnerships with Japanese content companies, which seemed to be a classic case of selling ice to Alaska’s indigenous inhabitants. Members of the packed seminar room might beg to differ, however.

Brent Lang Executive Editor FilmNation Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Sean Baker’s new romantic dramedy film “Anora.” Following the acquisition, FilmNation sold rights internationally to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand and Focus Features and Universal Pictures International in the rest of the world, excluding North America. The film was written and directed by Baker, who is best known for directing “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” It shot on location at the beginning of the year in Brooklyn and stars Mikey Madison, who appeared as Manson Family follower Susan “Sadie” Atkins in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Naman Ramachandran Chinese superstar actor and producer Fan Bingbing will be the 2023 recipient of the Singapore International Film Festival‘s (SGIFF) Cinema Icon Award. The festival will screen three of Fan’s films, curated by her – the recent “Green Night,” “Buddha Mountain” and “Double Xposure” – and the star will walk the red carpet on opening night, Nov. 30.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief TIFFCOM, the film market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, is set to be more international and more diverse in its first full comeback year after the COVID hiatus. It should also be more pleasant and convenient, having re-located to a more modern venue that is close to the film festival. “Bringing the in-person market back after four years, my priority was to make sure that TIFFCOM could happen during the festival, not some other time,” said Shiina Yasushi, who has headed the market for ten years.

Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Royal Blood and Megadeth topping the bill.The rock and metal festival is due to take place from June 27-30, 2024 in Clisson, France, where The Offspring, Dropkick Murphys, Babymetal, Nova Twins, The Interrupters and many more will play.“We still have over 160 bands to announce by the end of the year,” HellFest said in a social media statement. “Be patient.

K.J. Yossman Over 10,000 individuals — many of them prominent figures from British culture — have signed a letter condemning the atrocities perpetrated by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7 and demanding the immediate release of the more than 200 civilians still being held hostage.

Borussia Dortmund would only be interested in a Jadon Sancho return in January if most of his wages were covered by Manchester United, a report claims.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 monster movie “The Host” is among Paris-based distributor The Jokers Films’ recently releases, made available for the first time ever as a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition. The Jokers’ other new French release, the 4K restoration of Bruce Weber’s 1988 Chet Baker doc “Let’s Get Lost,” also screened at the Lumière Festival in Lyon with Weber in attendance. Describing the film’s sound and 4K restoration as “sublime,” The Jokers head Manuel Chiche says, “‘Let’s Get Lost’ is now a timeless classic not only about life but also about art and creation.” “Let’s Get Lost” is due to hit French theaters in summer 2024.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor “It’s been a really buzzy and busy market,” said Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom TV market and conference, and MipJunior, the kids TV event that preceded it, in Cannes Wednesday. More than 11,000 participants from more than 100 countries had come to the event, which runs Oct. 16-19.

The world premiere of “The Boy And The Heron” at TIFF last month marked the first film from Hayao Miyazaki in a decade. And as it’s made its tour on the Fall festival circuit, it’s clear Miyazaki has another winner on his hands.

Manchester United players can expect an owner who is 'present' should Sir Jim Ratcliffe complete plans to acquire 25 per cent of the Old Trafford club.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Warner Bros. Discovery will be launching its streaming service Max in France, one of its top European markets, next summer, Variety has learned. The launch in France will follow a rollout in Northern and Eastern Europe, which is expected to be unveiled by Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros.

Liza Foreman First, the bad news. A session helping to launch an extended MipJunior on Friday afternoon, underscored just how hard the kids TV business is suffering. Prefacing a panel discussion on the State of the Kids Entertainment Industry, Challenges & Opportunities, Ampere Analysis’ Cyrine Amor suggested global kids TV commissions were down 48% through August 2023.

Spike Lee has always been a filmmaker who is willing to critique other people’s art. And when you’re Christopher Nolan and you released one of the biggest films of 2023, you can expect everyone to have an opinion.

Jadon Sancho is eyeing up a January return to Borussia Dortmund after being exiled from the Manchester United squad by Erik ten Hag, according to reports.

This year’s show returns to Paris for the first time since 1995, and kicks off Sunday, Nov. 5.

The stars are stepping out for Miu Miu‘s big Paris Fashion Week event!