Sony Pictures Pauses Business in Russia Over Ukraine Invasion

Katya Jones has dismissed the claims that there’s tension between her and her fellow Strictly Come Dancing dancers.The allegations first surfaced in the wake of Russia – Katya’s home country – invading Ukraine, which the dancer isn't thought to have addressed until today, Thursday 31 March. With this in mind, some people have questioned if Russian dancers like Katya, 32, and Luba Mushtuk, also 32, should be allowed to take part in the popular BBC show, while others have claimed it caused “tension” between Katya and the rest of the dancers; particularly between Katya, Luba and Ukrainian-born dancers Nikita Kuzmin, 24, and Nadiya Bychkova, 32.

Sasha Urban editorPublicists for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Ted Lasso” won the top awards at the 59th annual ICG Publicists Awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Friday.Director Francis Ford Coppola, who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was also honored with a lifetime achievement award in honor of the 50th anniversary of his film “The Godfather.” In his speech, Coppola called out Russian president Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, saying, “It breaks my heart … what is happening in the world, this absurd reality of this world today, and I can’t not speak about that.”Each year, the International Cinematographers Guild awards honors the best in film and television publicity. This year’s awards luncheon was helmed by Paramount Pictures publicist Tim Menke and unit publicist Sheryl Main.

The union publicists who worked on behalf of the publicity campaigns for Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home and Apple’s Ted Lasso took home top honors today at the 59th annual International Cinematographers Guild’s Publicists Awards. See the full winners list below.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine continues and more music companies have ceased doing business with the country, many in the songwriting, music-publishing and especially the performing-rights communities have looked to CISAC, the global confederation of authors societies such as ASCAP and PRS, to make a unilateral decision.However, on Monday, the organization announced that although it “deplores and condemns the war waged by the Russian government against the Ukrainian population,” it will leave such decisions to individual societies, although it continues to develop a relief fund for Ukraine, first announced on Wednesday.“While abhorring the actions of the Russian armed forces, CISAC is not empowered to impose sanctions on member societies based only on the actions of their government,” the statement says in part. “Russian authors, just as their counterparts elsewhere, cannot be blamed for the grotesque actions of their government.” “CISAC’s global network of authors societies deplores and condemns the war waged by the Russian government against the Ukrainian population,” the statement reads.

Ellise Shafer Two weeks after pausing the theatrical release of “Morbius” in Russia, Sony Pictures has announced that it is also halting all other business in the country following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.This includes home entertainment releases, such as that of box office hit “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and any television distribution deals. Crunchyroll has also suspended its anime streaming service in Russia.Below, read the full memo from chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra:“As we continue to see the devastating news and images coming out of Ukraine, I wanted to reach out with an update on how SPE is reacting to these events.

A day after Disney announced it was suspending their business in Russia amid the Ukraine invasion, Sony Pictures Entertainment has made it effective that they too, are doing the same. This goes beyond the standard theatrical releases which both studios earlier halted.

A week after Disney paused the Russian theatrical releases in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Disney said Thursday that is “taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia” as the fighting intensifies.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn what is rapidly becoming a mass music exodus out of Russia, Kobalt became the third major company to announce on Thursday that it is suspending business activity in Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Of the three global major labels, Sony and Warner announced their pullout within an hour of each other on Thursday morning, and Universal made the move on Tuesday.Kobalt’s move is doubly significant because although it is a global company, Kobalt was founded in London by Swedish-born Willard Ahdritz and in many ways is a European company.

Nearly 30 major British companies have cut ties with Russia in an act of condemnation against Putin's war in Ukraine.

“South Park” remains timely.

The international union that governs skating said Tuesday that it was following the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee in banning athletes from Russia and Belarus from its competitions across the sports of figure skating and speed skating. It becomes the latest organization in the sports world to take action since Russia began its military invasion of Ukraine.

Paramount is the latest Hollywood studio to pull its upcoming movies, the Sandra Bullock-Channing Tatum-Brad Pitt romantic comedy adventure The Lost City and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, from Russia as the Ukraine invasion continues.

The Batman in Russia has been put on hold.Following Disney‘s cue after the theatrical release of Pixar’s Turning Red was delayed, Warner Bros. have now paused the premiere of The Batman in light of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.“In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film, The Batman, in Russia. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves,” Warner Bros.

Disney is taking their own stand against Russia as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

J. Kim Murphy Warner Bros.

Well, that was quick.

Hollywood hasn’t been the most bullish about taking an action that would dent its bottom line, but Disney today has taken the bold move of pulling its theatrical releases from Russia temporarily in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.