Busan Film Festival Sets Line-up; Iran’s ‘Scent Of Wind’ To Open; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Feted As Asian Filmmaker Of The Year

Colombian filmmaker Laura Mora has clinched the Golden Shell in the main competition of the 70th San Sebastian Film Festival with her latest feature The Kings of the World (Los reyes del mundo).

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Iranian action drama “World War III,” which won two awards at the recent Venice festival, will feature among the main competition titles at next month’s Tokyo International Film Festival. The festival will operate as an in-person event with foreign filmmakers, media and other guests in attendance from Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 2022. “World War III” is joined in the competition section by the world premiere of Milcho Manchevski’s “Kaymak,” Spanish director Carlos Vermut’s “Manticore” and Roberta Torre’s “The Fabulous Ones,” Michale Boganim’s “Tel Aviv Beirut,” and Youssef Chebbi’s debut film “Ashkal.”

The Santa Fe International Film Festival (SFiFF) has announced its first 15 feature titles. These films are part of the Special Presentation section and will be followed by a full schedule of competition films, short films, panels and events. SFiFF starts October 19 and will run through October 23.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Veteran film, theater and opera director Julie Taymor has been set as the president of the competition jury at next month’s Tokyo International Film Festival. Taymor (“The Lion King”) will head a small group that selects the winners from the 15 competition titles that unspool in Tokyo between Oct. 24 and Nov. 2, 2022. The other four members of the jury will be announced later. Taymor is the second woman to head the jury in as many years and follows Isabelle Huppert in 2021. There was no competition in 2020 due to COVID. And in 2019, the jury was headed by China’s Zhang Ziyi.

FINAS) has partnered with the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) for the inaugural Malaysian Development Lab for Fiction Feature Films (mylab). An incubator program for scriptwriters, directors, producers to work on developing scripts and film projects under lectures and the guidance of regional and international experts in scriptwriting, directing, producing, distribution, and markets and festivals, mylab focuses on projects at an early stage of development, with a team of scriptwriter, director and/or producer attached, targeted at regional or international audiences. It aims for each project to deliver a package of script, budget, financing plan, dossier and pitch-ready materials at the end of the program.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Iran’s Asghar Farhadi, who directed the Oscar winners “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” U.S. producer Christine Vachon, whose credits includes Oscar winner “Boys Don’t Cry,” and Oscar nominees “Far from Heaven” and “Carol,” and Romania’s Alexander Nanau, the director of the Oscar nominated “Collective,” are among the jury members at the 18th edition of the Zurich Film Festival, which takes place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 2.  Farhadi will head the jury for the International Feature Film Competition. He is joined by the U.K.’s Clio Barnard, who directed the BAFTA nominated “The Arbor,” “The Selfish Giant” and “Ali & Ava”; L.A.-based Brazilian Daniel Dreifuss, a producer on the Oscar nominated “No” and “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Germany’s Oscar entry; Swiss/Italian screenwriter and director Petra Volpe, whose credits include Tribeca prizewinner “The Divine Order”; and  Sweden’s Peter “Piodor” Gustafsson, the producer of Ali Abbassi’s “Border,” which won the main award in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Fragments of the Last Will,” a post-WWII prisoner of war drama, has been set as the opening title of next month’s Tokyo International Film Festival. It is directed by Zeze Takahisa. The festival, which runs Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 2022, will close with “Living,” directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy. The film is a reworking of Kurosawa Akira’s 1952 classic “Ikiru,” with a revised screenplay by Ishiguro Kazuo. “Fragments” is based on the true story of Yamamoto Hatao, a Japanese prisoner of war detained in a Siberian gulag. He believed that he would be able to reunite with his wife and children in Japan and for eleven years fought to keep the light of hope alive for his fellow POWs.

Sareh was one of two LGBTIQ women sentenced to death in Iran

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the Hong Kong star of “In The Mood For Love” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” has been named Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the Busan International Film Festival. Leung will collect his award at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 5. 2022. The festival will open with a screening of “Scent of a Wind” by Iranian director Hagi Mohaghegh. Busan organizers said that the festival will play a total of 243 films (features and shorts) from 71 countries and territories. These include 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres.

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz have spoken out after their date night appeared to end badly earlier this week. Brooklyn, 23, was seen sitting on a curb outside Los Angeles hotspot Cecconi’s after an evening out with his wife – but the couple has now insisted all is not what it seems.

Brooklyn Beckham has taken to Instagram to put rumours to rest after being pictured leaving a Los Angeles restaurant by himself, having arrived earlier with his wife Nicola Peltz.MORE: Victoria Beckham publicly reacts to Brooklyn's latest interview after absence from Romeo's birthdayDavid and Victoria Beckham's eldest son was photographed sitting on a curb outside Cecconi's West Hollywood on Sunday whilst tapping away on his phone and waiting for his car.WATCH: Brooklyn Beckham's touching gesture for Nicola Peltz's grandmother revealedIn an Instagram Story on Monday, Brooklyn reshared a post by Nicola, in which she clarified: "When you exit out the alley to avoid the paps and do it well enough that they think @brooklynpeltzbeckham left alone."RELATED: Brooklyn Beckham celebrates new milestone with Nicola Peltz - 'I love you more than life'MORE: Victoria Beckham reveals Romeo's epic 20th birthday cake - and you won't believe itResponding to her explanation, Brooklyn added: "Don't believe everything you read." Brooklyn and Nicola explained why he was pictured aloneIn the photo, Nicola can be seen in the same outfit she was pictured wearing to dinner, black trousers and a white T-shirt, and can be seen posing in an alley.The couple's clarification comes just days after Brooklyn gave a new interview in which he spoke about his famous family amid ongoing feud reports.Talking to Vogue Hong Kong, the couple didn't hold back and answered all types of questions, from how they fell in love, to Brooklyn's relationship with his siblings, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, and the "activity" he most enjoys doing with his mum, Victoria Beckham, and dad David.

Brooklyn Beckham appeared to be a far cry from his usual cheerful self after he was spotted looking downcast outside a Los Angeles eatery. The 23 year old was photographed as he sat cross legged on the curb outside Cecconi's West Hollywood on Sunday, as he scrolled sadly through his phone.

Victoria Beckham took to social media on Saturday with a message for her son Brooklyn Beckham, 23, after his latest interview with Vogue Hong Kong.MORE: Victoria Beckham wows in plunging dress for date night with David BeckhamThe fashion mogul's reaction comes just hours after her firstborn was noticeably absent from his younger brother Romeo's 20th birthday celebrations where dad David, brother Cruz, 17, and sister Harper, 11 united at Geko, a lavish restaurant in Miami.WATCH: Victoria Beckham is a fashion icon at Harper Seven's 11th birthday bashResponding to the interview, the 48-year-old shared a photo that read: "Looking good Bust, @brooklynpeltzbeckham," and added an avatar of herself shaping a heart with her hands.MORE: Victoria Beckham reveals Romeo's epic 20th birthday cake - and you won't believe itREAD:  Brooklyn Beckham talks relationship with siblings and parents David and Victoria following feud reportsIn the photo, Brooklyn wore a black top and pair of jeans as he knelt in a garden while being showered with water coming off of the sprinklers. David Beckham shared the same messageThere have been reports in recent months of a growing 'feud' between Brooklyn and his new wife Nicola Peltz with his parents, and Brooklyn hasn't been photographed with his family since his wedding April.Despite the noticeable distance from his family, talking to Variety magazine he and Nicola addressed the suspected rift, and the Tranformersstar also revealed that she didn't reject the idea of Victoria designing her wedding gown.Nicola told the publication that she initially intended to wear a dress designed by her mother-in-law.

Romeo Beckham reached a major milestone this week as the footballer celebrated his 20th birthday, but brother Brooklyn was absent from his party.READ: Nicola Peltz's favourite jeans style might have been influenced by Brooklyn BeckhamThe event featured the rest of the Beckhams, and a few days after the party dad David responded to the latest interview that Brooklyn had given to Vogue Hong Kong. Sharing a photo from the photoshoot, that saw the 23-year-old kneeling down while being showered with water, David simply wrote: "Looking good Bust."WATCH: Brooklyn Beckham bonds with father-in-law Nelson PeltzThe cover image featured Brooklyn wearing a black top and pair of jeans as he knelt in a garden while being showered with water coming off of the sprinklers.MORE: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz enjoy rare family night outSEE: Nicola Peltz Beckham is a nineties dream in band T-shirt and jeansThere have been reports in recent months of a growing 'feud' between the eldest of the Beckham children and his parents, and Brooklyn hasn't been photographed with his family since his wedding to Nicola Peltz in April.Brooklyn also failed to reunite with his family during his honeymoon in the South of France.

Victoria Beckham has shared her support for eldest son Brooklyn Beckham in a recent post amid "feud" claims with his wife Nicola Peltz. Victoria, 48, who recently shared a throwback snap of herself, has taken to her Instagram Story to share two snaps of son Brooklyn’s recent Vogue cover to her 30.2 million followers.

A panel of international figures joined forces today at the Venice Festival to pledge their support for filmmakers suffering oppression, harassment and imprisonment around the world.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Two Korean and two Indian movies make the cut in the Busan International Film Festival’s New Currents main competition section. Thet are joined by one each from Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Germany. The section has a track record of making significant discoveries among new Asian films and directors.The selected titles are eligible for multiple awards, including the New Currents Award, the FIPRESCI Award, the NETPAC Award, and the KB New Currents Audience Award. The selection comprises: “Ajooma,” directed by Hu Shuming (Singapore-Korea); “Blue Again” from Thailand’s Thapanee Loosuwan; “Hail to Hell,” by Korea’s Lim Oh-jeong; “Memento Mori: Earth,” by Vietnam’s Marcus Vu Manh Cuong; “No End,” directed by Nader Saeivar and flying the flags of Germany, Iran and Turkey; “A Place Called Silence,” by Malaysia’s Sam Quah; “Shivamma,” fromIndia’s Jaishankar Aryar; Japanese director Kubota Nao’s “One Thousand and One Nights”; “A Wild Roomer,” from Korea’s Lee Jeong-hong; and The Winter Within,” directed by Aamir Bashir, and structured as a co-production between India, France and Qatar.

Brooklyn Beckham has seemingly spoken out on the reported family feud after new details around his mum Victoria Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz's issues emerged. Rumours around the struggles the two families have shared have been circulating ever since Brooklyn, 23, and Nicola, 27, tied the knot in a star-studded £3 million ceremony in Florida back in April this year.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have given a new interview about their new life together – this time to Vogue Hong Kong.MORE: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz enjoy rare family night outThe duo didn't hold back and answered all types of questions, from how they fell in love, to Brooklyn's relationship with his siblings, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, and the "activity" he most enjoys doing with his mum, Victoria Beckham, and dad David.WATCH: Brooklyn Beckham's touching gesture for Nicola Peltz's grandmother revealedAsked about growing up with many siblings so close to age, Brooklyn revealed it was "nice" and confessed that they are "very close," despite not being photographed together since his and Nicola's wedding back in April.SEE: The best photos of David and Victoria Beckham from their 25-year romanceRELATED: Victoria Beckham's 9 most dramatic wedding guest outfits of all timeBrooklyn also failed to reunite with his family during his honeymoon in the South of France, and most recently, David and Victoria travelled to Miami, as well as Aspen, without stopping by Los Angeles, where their eldest son currently lives.A post shared by Vogue Hong Kong (@voguehongkong)Brooklyn for Vogue Hong KongDetailing each of his siblings' best qualities, the budding chef added in the interview: "Harper is the loudest, Cruz is the funniest and Romeo is the most energetic."The 23-year-old also spoke about his parents and revealed that when they are together he loves "cooking and watching football with my dad"."My mum has always had a house of boys until Harper, I love spending time with them together," he said of his designer mum.Brooklyn's new comments come just weeks after he and Nicola spoke for the first time about rumours that Nicola and