‘Documenting Landscapes: Ukraine’s Vanishing Terrain’ at the Amy Kaslow Gallery

Christopher Vourlias If there’s anything to be learned from the massive, industry-shaping disruptions of recent years — from the unprecedented challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic to the lingering fallout from the war in Ukraine — it’s that “the role of the big festivals in the industry ecosystem is crucial,” according to Tiina Lokk, director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. “When festivals were canceled or changed their dates due to COVID, the cycle of film releases went down the drain, which had a direct impact on cinemas and the whole business model,” Lokk tells Variety. While streaming platforms and Zoom meetings offered a “temporary remedy,” she adds, “it was not a real substitute for live interaction, contacts in a business climate.”

Every year, on the third Thursday of May, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Vyshyvanka. The occasion pays tribute to the country's original folk traditions and sees citizens wearing embroidered Ukrainian clothes, including the Vyshyvanka, a loose-fitting shirt, which is often in black or white and features geometric patterns stitched around the edges.  This year’s celebration was seen as a symbol of national unity against the Russian invasion.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Leading French producer Michael Gentile’s Paris-based outfit The Film is about to start shooting Julie Delpy’s next directorial outing, “The Barbarians,” and Laurence Arné’s “Les Hennedricks” starring Dany Boon. Delpy’s comeback to French filmmaking since “Lolo,” “The Barbarians” is a satirical comedy unfolding in a small town in Brittany which is preparing to welcome Ukrainian refugees after voting unanimously to greet them in exchange for subsidies from the government. But instead of seeing Ukrainians come into town, they see Syrian refugees, causing some tensions among locals and testing their liberal beliefs. Delpy will star in the film opposite Sandrine Kiberlain (“Mademoiselle Chambon”), Laurent Lafitte (“Elle”) and Ziad Bakri (“The Weekend Away”), India Hair (“Angry Annie”), Mathieu Demy (“The Bureau”) and Delpy’s father Albert Delpy.

Ukraine war and the momentous burst of rebellion against the Iranian regime prompted by the death of Mahsa Amini are reverberating profoundly at the Cannes Film Festival. At the festival’s opening ceremony on Tuesday night, legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve paid tribute to the war’s victims by reciting a poem from Ukrainian poet Lessia Oukraïnka, solemnly declaring: “I no longer have either happiness or freedom, only one hope remains to me: to return one day to my beautiful Ukraine.” One year ago, Cannes got off to an emotional start with remarks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

EXCLUSIVE: When millions of Ukrainians fled to the Polish border after the Russian invasion last year, Maciek Hamela, whose film In the Rearview is debuting in the Cannes market this week, was one of a number of volunteers who drove to help assist multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians in fleeing the life-threatening conflict. 

Iranian director Ali Abbasi has responded to Russia’s unexplained ban of his serial killer thriller Holy Spider just days after its theatrical release.

Callum McLennan Belgium’s Panique! (“Adoration,”), and Chile’s Pájaro have joined Oscar-nominated Vivemant Lundi! (“Flee,” “Mémorable,”) and Spanish collective Terremoto AIE to round out the co-production force behind the animated feature, “Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake.”  Filmax will handle distribution in Spain. KMBO will handle its domestic release in France. The Gallic distributor is on a roll with strong animation box office performances in France for “Amazing Maurice” and current Ukrainian hit “Mavka: The Forest Song,” Spearheading the production is Terremoto AIE, which includes Citoplasmas Stop Motion studio, Cornelius Films, and Bígaro Films, all contributing to the feature. 

The Eurovision Song Contest took place in Liverpool on Saturday with Sweden’s Loreen topping the leader board with her song ‘Tattoo’ and in doing so winning the event for a second time, something only one other performer has ever done. The UK’s Mae Miller, meanwhile, came second from last, just above Germany.Speaking at a press conference following the show, Loreen said: “Everything feels surreal. I am seriously overwhelmed.

Kate Middleton put her musical skills on display in a special segment opening the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final over the weekend.In a clip shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales' official Instagram account, Middleton is seen taking part in the opening sequence of the contest's final leg by playing last year's winning entry on the piano.

So the 67th Eurovision Song Contest was a game of two halves for the UK: stepping up as host nation in place of Ukraine, it delivered a flawless extravaganza, perfectly walking the tightrope between paying solemn tribute to Ukraine’s current plight and presenting an undiluted celebration of the unity of music with all the humour, goodwill and sometimes outright bonkers business that offers.

The grand final of the Eurovision song contest hit our screens last night, broadcasting live from Liverpool to millions all over the world.

Kate Middleton made a surprise cameo at the Eurovision Song Contest final on Saturday night.  The 41-year-old Princess of Wales gave a pre-recorded piano performance in the international song competition's opening segment, which she filmed earlier this month at the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle. Middleton played an instrumental version of the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra's song "Stefania," which won the contest last year.

Catherine Tate left Eurovision Song Contest fans 'screaming' as she put on a dazzling display while being the spokesperson for the UK. The comedian and actress delivered the results of the country's national jury – including the coveted "douze points" on Saturday night (May 13).

The Eurovision Song Contest is taking place on Saturday night and is this year being hosted by the UK.

This year the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place right here in the UK. Liverpool is hosting the competition on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine, who are unable to host the contest due to the war.

The buzz has been brewing this week - if not longer - for Eurovision 2023 and today's finally the day. The Grand Final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on Saturday night (May 13) in Liverpool after the city won a tight bidding contest to host the event on behalf of Ukraine.

Never mind which country takes the Eurovision crown this evening in Liverpool, UK – the audience has already claimed its favourite, and it’s the host Hannah Waddingham. 

EXCLUSIVE: Cinephil has come aboard to represent worldwide sales rights to Polish director Maciek Hamela’s In The Rearview, which will make its debut in the Cannes Film Festival next week as part of the ACID (Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema) program. 

Eurovision Song Contest has returned to the UK for the first time since 1998.Taking place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, this year’s contest is being held on UK shores as last year’s winner, Ukraine, are unable to host due to the country’s ongoing conflict with Russia.Eurovision 2023, however, will still have Ukrainian elements with singer Julia Sanina, frontwoman of Ukrainian rock band The Hardkiss, hosting the event alongside Graham Norton, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Alesha Dixon.Of the total 37 countries from across Europe and Australia who are competing in the contest, 26 will perform in the final: the top 10 winners from each respective semi-final, the Big Five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) and Ukraine.Singer-songwriter Mae Muller is representing the UK with her track ‘I Wrote A Song’, which she co-wrote with Karen Poole and Lewis Thompson.Speaking to NME about the song, Muller said: “A lot of my music can come from a place of pain, even though the outcome is quite sassy and liberating. This was one of those moments where I wanted to write something that made people feel empowered.

The Eurovision Song Contest grand final is almost among us.