E.U. Equity Tool MediaInvest Inks First Four Deals, Aiming to Inject $530 Million in Europe’s Audiovisual, Creative Companies, Projects

EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood vet Gianni Nunnari, producer on movies including the 300 franchise, Immortals, and From Dusk Til Dawn, is teaming with producer Simon Horsman (Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers, Magazine Dreams) to launch Euro Gang Entertainment.

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer The South by Southwest Music Festival has announced its initial lineup for its 38th annual event, descending on Austin, Texas from March 11-16. Organizers have revealed the first slate of 149 musicians set to perform during the festival, including Lo Moon (from Los Angeles), Cumgirl8 (New York), Omar S (Detroit), Rawayana (Caracas), Dry Cleaning (London), Hinds (Madrid) and Red Axes (Tel Aviv).

Married at First Sight UK continued on Tuesday night and it was the chance for the two new couples to integrate into the group and introduce themselves following their lavish honeymoon trips after meeting at the altar.

Ridley Scott has confirmed a four-hour director’s cut of his upcoming film Napoleon will be released on Apple TV+.The director, who previously said he had a “fantastic” cut of the historical epic which spanned four hours and 30 minutes, explained to TotalFilm that the director’s cut, which has since been reduced by 20 minutes, will be officially released.Asked about the director’s cut, Scott said: “I’m working on it. It was four [hours] 10 [minutes] this morning.

Carla Bruni is opening up about her experience with cancer.

Thania Garcia Latin music revenue is growing at an unprecedented pace in the United States, rising in consumption by 15% compared to the first half of 2022. Not only that, Spanish is now the second most listened-to language in music across the U.S. accounting for an estimated 23% of listeners.

First Dates star Fred Sirieix has shared a reassuring selfie from his hospital bed after undergoing two procedures.The 51-year-old revealed that he needed to have both a gastroscopy and colonoscopy to "investigate" blood test results. A recent routine blood test confirmed that the French maître d'hôtel and presenter had an iron deficiency. Fred admitted to his 839,000 followers, on Instagram, that the thought of the procedures "really stressed" him out and that he wasn't sure whether to be sedated for them or not.

Callum McLennan Witscript and Hyperrate.io took home the prizes at San Sebastian’s 5th Zinemaldia Startup Challenge on Thursday afternoon. Each received €10,000 ($10,600) and access to incubation to nurture their fledgling companies, with the potential to vie for €500,000 ($530,000) in funding. Speaking with Variety following her win, Hendrikje Wagner CEO of Hyperate.io was delighted with the validation: “Other people think it’s a really good idea and it enables us to move discussions forward.” The startup integrates heart rate data into live streams, events, and games.

the end of the Writers Guild of America’s 148 day strike. That set the tone of proceedings at the two-day confab and maybe added a slightly larger sense of forward momentum to the central issue at stake: a State of the Union take on the challenges and opportunities for the U.S and global film industry, from a market and producers’ perspective. Multiple audience members, many from Spain and Europe, commented on their delight at the caliber of panelists and attendees, many at the top of their game.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Celebrities, chefs, celebrity chefs and guests noshed and quaffed at the 11th annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand benefit Saturday at UCLA, which raised more than $1.4 million for childhood cancer research.

Spanish prosecutors have charged pop star Shakira with failing to pay 6.7 million euros ($7.1 million) in tax on her 2018 income, authorities said Tuesday, in Spain’s latest fiscal allegations against the Colombian singer.

Rosalía recently celebrated her 31st birthday while in France. Her fans ensured that her birthday celebration was nothing short of extraordinary. Instead of retreating to the quiet confines of a luxury hotel suite, the Catalan singer decided to celebrate with her dedicated fans who had gathered outside her Parisian hotel.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to shuffle his star-studded pack for their Carabao Cup third-round tie against Newcastle United on Wednesday night (8pm).

Soulwax have shared details of their first set of live shows in five years, with a 13-date tour in the UK and Europe kicking off next year.The Belgian electro-rock duo are bringing a full band to stages at venues across France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Belgium, with UK shows at London’s The Roundhouse and Manchester’s New Century Hall.Soulwax’s latest album was 2018’s ‘Essential’. The duo comprising brothers David and Stephen Dewaele also make up 2ManyDJs and Despacio, a joint project with LCD Soundsystem‘s James Murphy.News of Soulwax’s return to the stage comes at a milestone moment for the brothers who have just been awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution To Music award In association With Merlin’ at this year’s AIM Awards, in recognition of their decades-spanning work and influence.Tickets for Soulwax’s UK shows go on sale from 10am BST this Thursday (September 28) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.

The European Commission and European Investment Fund (EIF) have announced the first investments of its fledgeling MediaInvest equity investment instrument aimed at the audiovisual sector.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first clip for Studiocanal slasher pic Wake Up, which debuts today at Austin’s Fantastic Fest.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The 2023 installment of the annual Global Citizen Festival featured a powerful (if rainy) day of music, with sets by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lauryn Hill — who reunited the Fugees during her set — Anitta, Jung Kook — who was joined by Latto — Stray Kids side project 3Racha and a 50th anniversary of hip-hop performance with Busta Rhymes, Common, Big Daddy Kane and Rapsody alongside D-Nice. But far more important was what it accomplished in raising awareness, and commitments for some $240 million from France and Norway to the International Fund for Agricultural Development to address the global hunger crisis, announced by Emmanuel Macron, President of France. The flagship event from Global Citizen generated 3.3 million actions taken by global citizens around the world, calling on governments to address the major systemic issues our world is facing, including the global hunger crisis, the climate crisis, and equity for women and girls.

Married At First Sight Australia relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford has tragically died, it's been confirmed.

Married At First Sight Australia star Trisha Stratford has died at the age of 72, it has been confirmed.Trisha, who was a clinical neuropsychologist, starred on the programme from 2015 until her departure in 2020. Earlier this morning (18 September,) her MAFS colleague, John Aiken, announced her death on Instagram with a heartbreaking post.The 53 year old told his followers: "I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away. We shared an amazing seven seasons of @MAFS together.

First Dates star and TV foodie Fred Sirieix is looking to switch fine dining for campfire stews as he negotiates with ITV over appearing on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.The French star, 51, is reportedly discussing starring in the hit ITV show, according to The Sun - despite previously saying he wouldn't be able to hack the show's gruelling bushtucker trials. While Fred is no stranger to the eccentricities of fine dining, including frog legs and snails from his home country, eating a creature's private parts, fish eyes, and more was always a step too far for the famous foodie.