International Insider: Strike Action; Cannes Jury’s Out; Coronation Prep; ‘MasterChef Australia’ Rocked; Baz Had A Dream

Familiar faces who have been cast in the new season include Hannah Ferrier from Below Deck Mediterranean, radio host Ash Pollard, actor Gyton Grantley, Survivor fan favourite Luke Toki, TikTok creator Ian Zaro, pro wrestler Simone Williams and soldier AND shark attack survivor turned motivational speaker Paul De Gelder to name a few.  Joining these public figures is part-time pageant queen, part-time lawyer

This time around, Julie took part in the cooking competition as a guest judge, something Julie has described as a "completely different experience."

“You cannot go against your destiny,” 18-year-old Banel is warned in Banel & Adama (Banel e Adama), a visually striking and deceptively heavy debut from French-Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, only the second Black woman to make it into the Cannes Competition since Mati Diop’s Atlantics in 2019. At first sight, Sy’s film seems a bit of an outlier in a lineup sprinkled with veterans, and the extra scrutiny that comes with a Competition slot may well work against it. But it’s entirely possible that it might strike a chord with the jury, notably Rungano Nyoni, whose debut I Am Not a Witch took a similarly subversive and sophisticated approach to themes of African tradition and folklore.

Welcome, Insiders. Cannes is now well under way while the picket lines remain busy in LA. Jesse Whittock here in London. I’ve rounded up all the big and important news from film and TV, so sit back and enjoy the read. Subscribe here.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Magnolia Pictures and MK2 Films have acquired rights to Roaul Peck’s documentary about renowned photographer Ernest Cole. The untitled documentary chronicles the life and work of Cole, the first Black freelance photographer in South Africa, whose early work revealed to the world the shocking, brutal realities of Black life under apartheid. Magnolia will release the film in North American theaters, while MK2 will handle the rollout internationally. “Ernest Cole’s long and, at times, painful and tedious journey in America brings me back to a period of my life when my political commitment and artistic stamina were forged,” Peck said in a statement. “I profoundly feel, cherish and treasure his human eye on the facts of life and his piercing acuity over our terrible contradictions.”

MasterChef Australia has made its triumphant return to our television screens.Originally scheduled to debut on May 1, the show graced our screens on May 7, preceded by a touching tribute episode of The Sunday Project.Watch Below: Masterchef Secrets and Surprises TrailerNow, after a first week full of cooking, challenges and a surprise visit from Jamie Oliver, it's time for the contestants to face their first elimination.Who will be the first to say goodbye to the MasterChef kitchen? The first elimination of the season!Nine contestants battled it out in their first elimination challenge of the season. Eight contestants who were recovering from covid will be facing a separate elimination later in the week. The first elimination challenge of the season saw the contestants cook a meal using either Kumquats, Vegemite or Panettone: three ingredients that were close to the judge's childhood memories.After 60 minutes, the three least impressive dishes were sent to cook in an additional round, after which one chef was officially sent home. Andrea was the first to be eliminated.After a tense first round, Andrea, Amy and Robbie began a high-stakes second round.

But, in a brand new season of Secrets and Surprises, not everyone can rise above the stresses of the high-stakes show. 

Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here, and with Cannes just a few days away we’ve got plenty for you to digest in this week’s newsletter. You can subscribe here.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, whose movies “The Square” and “Triangle of Sadness” have won two of the past five Palmes d’Or, will attend Cannes this year not as a competitor but as jury president. Over a lively phone chat, Östlund (who lives on Majorca with his fashion-photographer wife, Sina Görtz, and their son) shares his wildest aspirations for the festival. What made you want to take on the role of jury president? When you look at the history of who has been the president of the Cannes Film Festival’s jury, you get humbled. My biggest inspirations come from the directors connected to this festival. And the way Cannes is fighting for the intellectual European perspective of cinema is something that is important and unique in the world.

Mohammad Rasoulof’s hopes to attend the Cannes Film Festival have been dashed.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Dissident Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been banned from leaving Iran to serve as a member of the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard jury, according to a report. News of the travel ban for the director who was recently released from Tehran’s Evin prison after being arrested last July for criticizing the government on social media, has been reported by the Farsi-language news service of Radio France Internationale (RFI). The report said Rasoulof had been asked to be a member of the Un Certain Regard jury but has been forced to decline. The Cannes Film Festival did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dissident Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has confirmed that he was unable to accept an invitation from the Cannes Film Festival to participate in its Un Certain Regard jury after being barred from leaving Iran.

The 76th Festival de Cannes already had a jury president in two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlünd. It now has eight more members to fill out its jury.

MasterChef Australia has announced the new season will premiere on Sunday night following the shocking death of Jock Zonfrillo earlier this week.

MasterChef Australia‘s new season has been rescheduled to launch on Sunday (May 7) evening following the death of judge Jock Zonfrillo.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Jock Zonfrillo, the colorful and controversial chef and TV personality who died suddenly on Sunday, is to be honored on air with twin broadcasts this weekend on Australia’s Network Ten#. A new season of “MasterChef,” the reality TV show on which Zonfrillo was a judge, will now launch on Sunday evening, the broadcaster said on Wednesday. The show was due to have begun airing on Monday, but transmission was postponed as news of Zonfrillo’s sudden death was digested by the industry and public. The network said that it had the Zonfrillo family’s blessing for the move.

Jock Zonfrillo sadly, and suddenly, passed away over the weekend at the young age of 46.

EXCLUSIVE: As the West End production of Mamma Mia! enters its 25th year on stage, Judy Craymer, its creator and driving force, is expanding the MM! universe with ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream talent show. Set on an idyllic Greek island, it’s aimed at finding MM! stars of the future. There’s definitely a desire to see MM! back on Broadway in 2025, Craymer confirms, and she says she’s also pushing to make the dream of a third MM! film a reality.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America contract expires at midnight tonight, and all of Hollywood is on edge, anticipating a possible strike. As is typical, rumors are flying around. So here are clear answers to all of your questions — except one. Will there be a strike? We don’t know. But what are you hearing? The two sides continue to negotiate, and could reach an agreement before the contract expires. They also might not, which would likely — though not certainly — lead to a strike.

A heartbreaking loss. MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo has died at age 46.