Features Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Ireland’s screen industry is having a moment. With the Cannes Film Festival well underway, there’s a notable strong Irish presence in this year’s line-up including Element Pictures’ three entrants – Competition title Kinds of Kindness from Yorgos Lanthimos, Rungano Nyoni’s sophomore feature On Becoming A Guinea Fowl and Ariane Labed’s directorial debut September Says (both in Un Certain Regard). There’s also Competition title The Apprentice, which is co-produced with Irish outfit Tailored Films and Lorcan Finnegan’s Nicolas Cage starrer The Surfer premiering in the Midnight Screenings strand. Even Andrea Arnold’s Competition title Bird is rich with Irish talent with star Barry Keoghan and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan both having worked on the film. 

John Krasinski’s imaginary friend feature IF made $1.75M in Thursday night previews that began at 4PM. It’s been awhile since we had a live-action PG-rated feature, so comps are tough. The outlook heading into the weekend is $40M. The highest grossing opening for an original live-action PG film was Hop at $37.5M.

It’s been 31 years since Screen Ireland (formerly the Irish Film Board) was re-established by the now President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. In those years, the government has continued to give strong support to the screen sectors, with the country offering an attractive 32% tax incentive on eligible spend for film and television production. Last year, the country’s government increased its section 481 tax incentive cap on eligible expenditure from €70 million to €125 million in a move to attract larger scale productions.  

Selena Gomez has touched down in France to attend the 2024 Cannes Film Festival!

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of CBeebies Land we're giving readers the chance to win the ultimate CBeebies experience at Alton Towers Resort - including an overnight themed sleepover! Up for grabs is an overnight stay at one of the on-site accommodations for a family of 4, 4 x 1-day theme park entry tickets, 4 x 1-day Gold Fastrack Passes, free buffet breakfasts, 9-holes of Extraordinary Golf and free parking. Not bad, hey? And that's not all - to mark a decade of CBeebies Land, Alton Towers Resort have announced the return of its Parent and Toddler Pass which gives families discounted access to the full theme park.The pass grants one adult and one child (Under 5 years) into the theme park for just £29 and is exclusively available online during off-peak periods, excluding weekends and school holidays.

Selena Kuznikov Renovo Media Group has launched a new studio and facility in Clear Lake, Iowa, set to be led by Lisa Crnic as president, Aaron Wiederspahn as head of scripted, and Ben Parrish as head of unscripted. The group is led by chairman David Kingland. Renovo Media Group will develop, finance and produce feature films, scripted and unscripted docs and series and commercial productions.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s company Hana Kuma has boarded Leonardo Van Dijl’s debut feature “Julie Keeps Quiet” ahead of its world premiere on Saturday in Cannes Critics’ Week. The film is being sold by New Europe Film Sales. Osaka and her longtime agent and business partner Stuart Duguid’s Hana Kuma, an Emmy Award-nominated creative house, will serve as executive producers on the film.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor AGC Intl., the international sales arm of Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, is launching sales in Cannes on director Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary feature “Nobu,” about world renowned chef and hotelier Nobu Matsuhisa. Nobu’s path to success was strewn with obstacles, adversity and tragedy.

Alex Ritman Signature Entertainment has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to Sylvester Stallone(“Tulsa King”)action thriller “Alarum”from Highland Film Group. The feature is produced and financed by Convergence Entertainment Group (“Cash Out”) and is directed by Michael Polish (“Force of Nature”) from a script written by Alexander Vesha (“Deadly Impact”).

Gok Wan has continued to be inundated with messages of love and support after confirming the death of his beloved best friend. The This Morning star's fans and followers became familiar with Ali, known as Fanny McPhee, as she regularly featured on his page.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Variety will present a Women in Cinema Panel at the Cannes Film Festival in tandem with the Red Sea International Film Festival featuring top talents from Egypt, India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Senegal. The panel will take place at La Plage Des Palmes on Saturday, May 18, at 12pm CET.

The sad news of the death of Nicola Peltz's beloved grandma Bunny at 95 has been announced.This is especially poignant as Bunny was a prominent figure at Nicola's extravagant nuptials to Brooklyn Beckham, where she assumed the role of Maid of Honour.The heartbreaking news was shared by Bradley Peltz, Nicola's older brother, who took to his Instagram to share several lovely photos and an emotive tribute to Bunny. On Friday, Bradley uploaded multiple photos featuring his dear grandmother, captioned with a touching remembrance: "Today, we lost my angel on earth," wrote Bradley, who is also a child of magnate Nelson Peltz, like Nicola. He eulogised Bunny further, describing her in loving words: "She was not only the happiest but one of my favourite souls I ever came across.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent On Sept. 12, 2022, the day before Jean-Luc Godard died by assisted suicide at 91 in his home in Rolle, Switzerland, the Godfather of French New Wave completed his final 18-minute film, “Scénarios,” which premieres on today in Cannes. “Scénarios” — which comprises two components called “DNA, Fundamental Elements” and “MRI, Odyssey” — is followed by “Exposé du Film Annonce du Film ‘Scènario,’” a 34-minute, behind-the-scenes doc about the making of Godard’s last short.

Jamie Lang Spanish sales, distribution, and production company Filmax has picked up international rights to the upcoming kids and family animated feature “The Light of Aisha” and is sharing the project with buyers at this year’s Marché du Film. The CG-animated film tells the story of Aisha, a young girl living in XI-century Al-Andalus in the south of modern-day Spain.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hit crime thriller “The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon” received 13 nominations for the upcoming Taipei Film Festival’s Taipei Film Awards. These include nominations for best feature, best director, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting actress, and best supporting actor.

The launch of the new season of Bridgerton which has just hit Netflix has had us all buzzing with anticipation.

The latest list of Britain's top wealthiest people in 2024 has been revealed.

Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen, Hunter McGrady and Gayle King hit the red carpet at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2024 Issue Release and 60th Anniversary Celebration at Hard Rock Hotel New York on Thursday (May 16) in New York City.

Nina Agdal and Logan Paul just made their red carpet debut together at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2024 Issue Release and 60th Anniversary Celebration at Hard Rock Hotel New York on Thursday (May 16) in New York City.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The persistent vibrancy of Italian cinema, despite increasing financing difficulties, is undisputable if you look at the range of the country’s current output and what’s percolating in the pipeline. It spans from highly sophisticated new works by maestros such as Paolo Sorrentino and Luca Guadagnino to crassly commercial global megahits like Netflix Italy original “The Tearsmith” and promising fresh fare from Cinema Italiano’s next generation.

Christopher Vourlias It’s been 20 years since the Czech Republic hosted its first pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film, with a Czech delegation arriving at the prestigious French fest just days after their country had joined the European Union. The timing was both propitious and symbolic: In the two decades since, the Czech industry has grown more international in its outlook, spurred on by a growing number of co-productions and a wave of industry professionals who have come of age since the country joined the E.U.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Arab cinema continues to break new ground with a fresh crop of social dramas, several of which depict female empowerment in different forms. These range from the tale of a young woman who fakes being dead so she can leave everything behind, to a rape-revenge thriller titled “Beretta,” just like the semi-automatic pistol used by Suad, its mute protagonist. Below is a compendium of promising upcoming Arabic-language films in various stages that will be surfacing either at festivals or on streamers.

Camryn Manheim is leaving Law & Order, but you couldn’t have known that by watching the show’s season finale, which aired tonight.

Bright Light Bright Light is back with a brand new album, and it’s full of fabulous features!

Will Smith is speaking out about Vanessa Hudgens in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, aka Bad Boys 4.

Jake Gyllenhaal is getting ready to host Saturday Night Live!

J. Kim Murphy A new entry in the “Insidious” franchise has been set for the theaters. The next installment of the Blumhouse Productions horror property, co-produced by Screen Gems, has been added to Sony’s theatrical slate, with the studio dating the film for an Aug.

EXCLUSIVE: Focus Features has acquired U.S. rights and select international territories on upcoming thriller Last Breath, starring Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole and Simu Liu. Focus will distribute the Alex Parkinson-directed title in the U.S. with Universal Pictures International handling select territories including France, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam. 

The CW fans were taken aback when the network announced it’s upcoming Fall 2024 schedule!

Sikandar Kher, who can currently be seen starring in Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut Monkey Man, has signed with Zero Gravity Management.

Family Guy was one of the biggest stars of the 2024 upfronts, prominently featured at two different presentations – Fox and Disney. Seth MacFarlane’s animated hit helped open Fox’s event and then was part of a Disney skit featuring an animated version of the company’s ad chief Rita Ferro making a sales pitch while hanging out with Peter Griffin and his dog, Brian.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Everyone’s in the Emmy race, but the Television Academy has forced John Mulaney to make a change that may only benefit his awards run. Netflix‘s live smash “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A,.” featuring the Emmy-winning stand-up comedian celebrating the quirks and unique personality of his beloved city, was massively popular on the platform.

The 2024 BET Awards nominations are here!

Omar Apollo is back with a new album.

Ellise Shafer Is Francis Ford Coppola’s controversial magnum opus “Megalopolis” any good? The two hour and 20 minute dystopian drama certainly divided the audience at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night with its collision course of shocking scenes: a doctored sex tape featuring Adam Driver, Shia LaBeouf dressing in drag and playing a Trumpian figure and Aubrey Plaza dominating her way through a slew of men in the film. But there was still a huge amount of respect for iconic director Coppola, who received a four-minute standing ovation upon entering the room. After the credits rolled and the crowd clapped for seven minutes, Coppola hugged Driver and Giancarlo Esposito and got emotional as he made a speech dedicating the film to hope and family.