Oscars: Egypt Will Not Participate in Best International Film Category

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Cinemed, the Mediterranean Cinema Film Festival, is partnering up with Lebanese film org Aflamuna / Beirut DC to launch a new co-production and co-financing initiative aimed at high-profile projects from the Arab world. The new program, which is also backed by France’s National Film Board and is part of the festival’s industry showcase Cinemed Meetings, will present seven projects involving 22 Arab countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Liban, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Syria, among others. All selected projects are currently in development and are being brought by filmmakers who have previously directed at least one short film.

The English,” starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. All six episodes of the limited series will premiere on November 11 exclusively in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Nordics on Prime Video, following its November 10 UK premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The series is created by Hugo Blick, who also serves as an executive producer, director and writer. The series follows aristocratic Englishwoman Lady Cornelia Locke, played by Blunt, and a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout named Eli Whipp, played by Spencer. They come together in 1890 middle America to cross a violent landscape built on dreams and blood.

Industry veterans Emad Morcos, former OSN Chief Content and Commercial Officer; Amanda Turnbull, who was previously General Manager at Warner Bros Discovery Middle East, Africa and Turkey; and Amel Farag, former Head of Content Commercial Strategy at OSN have joined forces to launch Rise Studios.

K.J. Yossman The producers behind hit Netflix series “The Crown” are preparing to shoot the scenes leading up to Princess Diana’s death, Variety understands, which is causing some anxiety among the cast and crew. The scenes are due to be shot in the next two weeks with Elizabeth Debicki playing Diana (pictured above). A source says there is a strong desire within the production team “to get it right and handle [it] sensitively.” Not only are Diana’s sons, Princes Wiliam and Harry, still alive and continuing to grieve but the British royal, dubbed “the People’s Princess” by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, continues to hold a special place in the public’s hearts some 25 years after she died in a Paris car crash at the age of 36.

Manori Ravindran International Editor Former Warner Bros. Discovery and OSN executives are teaming up to form a new content studio serving the Middle East and North Africa, Variety can reveal. Rise Studios is being set up by industry veterans Emad Morcos, former OSN chief content and commercial officer; Amanda Turnbull, former general manager at Warner Bros. Discovery Middle East, Africa and Turkey; and Amel Farag, former head of content commercial strategy at OSN. Rise will invest in local content and talent in order to launch homegrown film and TV productions on both regional and global broadcasters and streaming platforms.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Kamila Andini’s “Before Now and Then” (aka “Nana”) topped the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film and best director. The film, about a gentlewoman’s memories of escaping from a Communist purge, narrowly headed three films with three nominations each: “Poet” (aka “Akyn”) by Kazakhstan’s Darezhan Omirbayev; “This Is What I Remember” (aka “Esimde”) by Kyrgyzstan’s Aktan Arym Kubat; and Philippines director Lav Diaz’s “When The Waves Are Gone” (“Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon”). APSA casts its net wide, seeking honors for cinematic excellence from 78 countries and territories defined as Asia Pacific. The awards will be presented at a ceremony at HOTA on Australia’s Gold Coast on Nov. 11, 2022.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Japanese director Kawase Naomi will lead the international competition jury of the 44th Cairo International Film Festival (Nov. 13-22). Kawase won the Caméra d’Or for best debut feature film at Cannes for “Moe no Suzaku” (1997) and also won awards there for “Mogari no Mori” (2007) and “Hikari” (2017). In 2000, her film “Hotaru” won the FIPRESCI award at Locarno. Cairo festival president Hussein Fahmy said that Kawase has had a distinguished career and possesses great experience that qualified her to obtain prestigious awards from various international festivals.

Japanese director Naomi Kawase will preside over the international jury of the 44th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival, running November 13 to 22.

Jurgen Klopp believes that Erling Haaland has enjoyed such a good start to the season that nobody should be compared to him - not even Mohamed Salah.

Netflix has previewed a selection of upcoming films and shows aimed at the Arab world and hailing from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan.

*Caution: Spoilers ahead!

Big excitement while celebrating the small screen. Wednesday's new episode of was TV Night, and everything from the set decoration to the wardrobes to the editing and even song choices, was a celebration of all things TV.Robin Thicke opened the show with a performance of the theme song for — which, obviously, served as a tribute to his late father, Alan Thicke, who famously starred in the iconic sitcom.

Claims that Liz Truss told King Charles not to get involved in next month’s Cop27 climate change summit in Egypt have been denied by a Cabinet minister. It comes amid questions about the Government’s commitment to the net-zero target.

What to watch: 7 movies & shows to stream this week - September 16What To Watch: 7 movies & shows that feature Queen ElizabethAfter much anticipation, discussion, and controversy, Ana de Armas’ “Blonde” is finally on Netflix. The film is an alternate take on Marilyn Monroe’s life, based on the famous Joyce Carol Oates novel. While critics are torn on the film – some calling out its misogyny and others its technical prowess – the role is de Armas’s riskiest, and will likely lead to some award recognition.

George Clooney opened up about his admiration for wife, Amal Clooney, Thursday night at the inaugural Albie Awards, hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice. George Clooney praised wife, Amal Clooney, for her humanitarian work. (THEHAPABLONDE / SplashNews.com) The actor and his human rights attorney wife stepped out together at the New York Public Library, where he gushed about how much he enjoyed working with Amal to create the event.