Sky Cinema adds warning about ‘outdated attitudes and language’ to films

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Leading Russian animation outfit Riki Group has signed a deal with Beijing-based producer and distributor Joy Culture and Chinese platform Tencent Video to partner on season four of animated series The Fixies.Following its acquisition of the show’s third season, Tencent will now invest in the production of 52 new episodes of the series, which follows the comical misadventures of Tom Thomas and his secret friendship with Simka and Nolik, two young

Comcast-owned Sky and Sony Pictures Television have struck a new long-term content partnership across the U.K. and Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Chinese crime drama Sheep Without A Shepherd, one of the last big box office hits in China before cinemas were forced to shutdown, grossing $167M, has been set for a UK theatrical release by distributor Trinity CineAsia.Theaters have started re-opening in the UK and multiplexes including Cineworld and Vue are set to following in the coming weeks.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorSky and Sony Pictures Television have signed a new “long-term” partnership that will give the Comcast-owned pay-TV operator access to Sony’s movies across the UK and Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.The deal builds on an agreement signed in 2016 and means new Sony Pictures Entertainment releases, including Jumanji: The Next Level, Little Women and Bad Boys For Life, will be carried by Sky Cinema.

Rebecca Davis editorHong Kong “Mulan” star Donnie Yen this week reiterated his political loyalty to mainland China as he teased work on the upcoming theatrical adaptation of popular video game “Sleeping Dogs” and announced “Golden Empire,” a new China-backed crime thriller.His hometown is currently roiling under the impact of a controversial new national security law imposed by Beijing that strips Hong Kong of many of its former freedoms, which came into effect July 1 — the anniversary of

Sec. of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterAardman, the Oscar-winning UK animation studio, has inked a deal with Chinese major Tencent that will see its Shaun The Sheep series hosted on the latter’s video platform. Shaun is hosted around the world by Netflix, which isn’t in China so this latest deal completes the global picture on the franchise.

BBC has introduced warnings about outdated language and social attitudes featured in programmes on iPlayer.The move follows Netflix‘s recent decision to remove comedies The Mighty Boosh and The League of Gentlemen from its streaming service due to the use of blackface.

Linda Cristal was an actress who starred as Victoria Cannon in the popular Western series “The High Chaparral” from 1967 to 1970.A native of Argentina, Cristal began her acting career at home and in Mexico before transitioning to U.S. movies and TV.

There have been no winners in the theatrical film business during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic —but China, arguably, has been the biggest loser. The country's vast network of 70,000 movie screens has been idle since Jan.

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s Joy Pictures is selling 10 Chinese titles at the Cannes market this year, including two of its own animated features scheduled for summer 2022. The shingle, which began as a marketer and distributor best-known in its early days for bringing “La La Land” to China, has recently shifted its focus to the production and sale of animation.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled 22 feature projects shortlisted for its Work-in-Progress Program. The project will take place exclusively online, running Aug.

Comcast-owned pay TV giant Sky has added disclaimers to some movie titles available on its Sky Cinema service, including The Jungle Book, the 1992 animated Aladdin,Flash Gordon, The Last Samurai and Breakfast at Tiffany's, that "this film has outdated attitudes, language and cultural depiction, which may cause offense today." "Sky is committed to supporting anti-racism and improving diversity and inclusion both on and off screen," a Sky representative said.

UK’s Sky network will feature new disclaimers for a handful of films on their service, including The Jungle Book, The Goonies and Dumbo.

Manori Ravindran International EditorComcast-backed U.K.

sparked by the death of George Floyd while in police custody.The films that now come with the additional warning on Sky Cinema include Gone With The Wind, Flash Gordon and the original animated version of Dumbo.“Sky is committed to supporting anti-racism and improving diversity and inclusion both on and off screen,” a spokesperson for Sky said.