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The Palm Springs International Film Awards have long been a star-studded stop on the awards season calendar, held in the early days of January in the desert to jump start the race after the new year. The marathon awards show — at which there are typically around 10 trophies handed out over the course of the evening — will get a bigger dose of glamour courtesy of a new multiyear partnership with Kering.

The global luxury group, parent of fashion houses like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato and more, will serve as a presenting sponsor. Under the pact, Kering’s Women in Motion series will deliver two Talking Pictures sessions. The news comes on the heels of January’s event, at which Women in Motion test drove two of those sessions, one featuring Maria star Angelina Jolie and the other with the team from Emilia Pérez, Karla Sofía Gascón,...

Global luxury group Kering will be the new presenting sponsor of the Palm Springs International Film Awards, the Palm Springs International Film Society announced Thursday. The awards are skedded for Jan. 3, the second day of the festival which takes place Jan. 2-12.

As part of the sponsorship, Kering’s Women In Motion program ,which spotlights women in the arts and culture, will present two Talking Pictures events during the festival’s opening weekend.

“We are honored to welcome Kering as the Presenting Sponsor of the Palm Springs International Film Awards,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “Kering is more than a global leader in luxury—it’s a force for cultural change. Their commitment to artistic innovation and amplifying diverse voices aligns perfectly with our mission. This partnership celebrates the power of storytelling and the global impact of film.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Palm Springs International Film...

On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended invites to 534 people to become a member, the largest class since 2020. Some of these names were not surprising. Reigning Oscar winners Mikey Madison and Kieran Culkin were invited, though it might be surprising that Culkin, with his extensive career, wasn't already a member, but he also doesn't seem like the type who would have sought out membership previously.. Other 2025 nominees who could vote for the Oscars next year are Ariana Grande, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Monica Barbaro.

If all the invitees accept, the total members, including emeriti, will be 11,120, and the number of voting members will be 10,143. In addition, 35 percent of the Academy would be women, 22 percent would be from underrepresented communities, and 21 percent would be international.

Let's take a closer look at the class of 2025.

1. No to Karla Sofía Gascón...

Haven't heard that name in a while,...

Recent Oscar winners Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison, along with nominees Ariana Grande, Fernanda Torres, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, are among the 534 distinguished artists and executives invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

These individuals have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the art and science of filmmaking, representing a diverse spectrum of talent, perspectives and geographic backgrounds.

If all invitees accept, the Academy’s total membership will rise to 11,120, including 10,143 voting members. Invitees hail from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, contributing to the Academy’s increasing international profile.

“We are thrilled to welcome this esteemed class of artists, technologists and professionals into the Academy,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement. “This year’s class embodies the diversity and global breadth of today’s film community, and their inclusion will continue to enrich the Academy’s mission and work.

Karla Sofía Gascón will not be voting for the next Best Picture winner. The Spanish actress, who was nominated this year for Best Actress for “Emilia Pérez,” was not on the list of 534 people whom the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited to join. Gascón’s co-star Adriana Paz, who was not nominated, was among the 2025 invitees. Their “Emilia Pérez” co-star Zoe Saldaña, who won this year for Best Supporting Actress, was already a member.

While an Oscar nomination automatically qualifies someone for Academy membership, an invitation is not a guarantee. In this case, the Actors Branch would make a recommendation and then the Academy Board of Governors has final say. But Gascón, who found herself at the center of a prolonged controversy this past winter due to the discovery of racist tweets she had previously sent, is only the second first-time Best Actress nominee from the past...

2025 Academy Award winners Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Lol Crawley and nominees Ariana Grande, Sebastian Stan and Brandi Carlile have been invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as have other notables including incumbent Oscars host Conan O’Brien, his predecessor Jimmy Kimmel and their respective producers; top executives Tom Quinn of Neon, Jason Ropell of Mubi, Ravi Ahuja of Sony and Shannon Ryan of Disney; plus WME president Ari Greenburg, entertainment lawyer Nina Shaw and Christian Hodell, managing partner of the leading U.K. talent agency Hamilton Hodell.

The list of 534 invitees, released Thursday morning by the Academy, is the largest one issued since 2020, the last year of a half-decade stretch in which the organization recruited huge classes of unprecedented diversity, ranging in size from 683 to a record 928, as part of its response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of 2015 and 2016. Subsequent classes were smaller: 395 in...

Karla Sofía Gascón appears in images for the new movie Trinidad. Gascón is best known for her starring role in the film Emilia Pérez, a French-Mexican musical drama that came out last year. The movie earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, though she ultimately lost out to Anora's Mikey Madison.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed new images for Gascón's upcoming role in Trinidad. The first image shows Gascón wearing all black, including a dress and hat, as two characters in cowboy hats stand behind her. In the second image, she wears the same outfit while sitting at a table for a feast. The third image focuses on another of Trinidad's female characters.

In addition to showing the images, the report also explained the filming information for Trinidad. The movie is set primarily in the United States, but was filmed in recent months in the Canary Islands.

Karla Sofía Gascón is back in the saddle after her Oscar-nominated work in Emilia Perez became the flashpoint of last awards season.

The Hollywood Reporter has the first look at Gascón in the 19th century-set Spanish western Trinidad, directed by Laura Alvea and José Ortuño.

The English-language feature filmed in recent months in the Canary Islands, but is set primarily in the United States. It stars Gabriela Andrada as Trinidad, a woman who flees persecution in Spain for the wild west. Along the way, she earns renowned for her skills with weapons, but also becomes a target of enemies, such as the widow Bronson (Gascón).

The actress describes her character as an “ultra-conservitive woman” who is “a kind of female Darth Vader with five children to protect and manipulate.”

“She hates immigration, even though she’s an immigrant herself, with deeply patriarchal values,” Gascón tells THR. “She’s anti-feminist and opposed to social progress,...

Hollywood Insider - The Oscars: A Look at 2025’s Biggest Night and a Love Letter to Hollywood

The 2025 Oscars Take Place Sunday, March 2, Airing Live on ABC and Streaming Live on Hulu at 7 p.m. Et. A Tribute to Hollywood's Award Seasons The wait is finally over—Hollywood’s biggest night has arrived, and the excitement is at an all-time high. The Oscars aren’t just a celebration of the year’s best films; they’re a tradition that honors the latest works of entertainment. The 1,500-foot red carpet is officially rolled out, ready for the stars to gather and shine. Excitement and nerves fill the air, but before the night takes over, let’s take a moment to explore what makes Hollywood’s award season so captivating and what it truly represents. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer...

Actor Zoe Saldaña says her newly minted Academy Award “is gender fluid — it’s trans and goes by they/them,” a playful declaration she offered on the “Elio” premiere carpet in Los Angeles this week. Asked by People where the statuette lives, the 46-year-old replied, “We have it in my office,” before volunteering its pronouns and noting the link to the transgender storyline of Emilia Pérez, the Spanish-language musical crime drama that earned her the prize.

Saldaña’s off-hand remark lands in the middle of a broader, months-long dispute over Emilia Pérez. The film, directed by France’s Jacques Audiard, follows a Mexican cartel boss who transitions with the help of Saldaña’s lawyer character and has delivered both Oscars glory — 13 nominations and wins for Saldaña and best original song — and fierce backlash.

Trans-advocacy group GLAAD catalogued critiques calling the picture a “profoundly retrograde” portrayal of trans women and a step backwards for representation.

Zoe Saldaña won an Academy Award for her role in the successful (but controversial) Netflix movie Emilia Perez. She has now clarified that she doesn't see her Oscar statuette as male or female, referring to it as "gender fluid" and "trans."

“We have it in my office and my Oscar is gender fluid," Saldaña said of her first Academy Award, per People. She added the Oscar "goes by the/them."

Emilia Perez is a musical drama that tells the story of a cartel boss (Karla Sofia Gascon) looking to start a new life through a gender-affirming surgery with the help of an attorney (Saldaña). Directed by Jacque Audiard, the film was a major hit, picking up a slew of major awards after its release. It had more nominations than any other movie at the Academy Awards in March, with 13 in total, though it only picked up two wins. Along with...

While the Academy hasn’t been immune to controversies, which is reasonable given the subjective nature of the medium, the glory of the Oscar is still considered one of the highest honors an actor can receive. Different actors have their own ways of handling their golden statuette, as while on one hand, Kate Winslet keeps it in her bathroom to allow her guests to imagine this glory, Jared Leto, on the flip side, lost his one three years later.

Zoe Saldaña, however, has opted to dedicate her Oscar statuette to the trans community, which goes by the pronouns they/them.

Zoe Saldaña dedicates her Oscar statuette to the trans community A still from Emilia Pérez | Credit: Netflix

Despite being one of the most polarizing releases of 2024, Emilia Pérez entered the 97th Academy with 11 Oscar nods, including Zoe Saldaña‘s nod for Best Supporting Actress. What should’ve been a celebration...

Zoe Saldana has revealed a detail about her Oscars statue!

If you don’t know, the 46-year-old actress won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award this year for her work in Emilia Perez.

She was asked where she has been keeping her Oscars statue, and she revealed that detail and more.

Keep reading to find out more…

“We have it in my office and my Oscar is gender fluid,” Zoe told People in response. She said the statue is “trans” and uses “they/them” pronouns in her household.

In Emilia Perez, Zoe‘s character helps the titular role (played by Karla Sofia Gascon) get gender-affirming surgery. The movie can be streamed now on Netflix, if you haven’t already checked it out!

You can watch Zoe Saldana’s entire Oscars acceptance speech right here.

Zoe Saldaña told People on the red carpet for Disney and Pixar’s “Elio” that her Oscar statue, which she won earlier this year for her supporting turn in the Netflix musical drama “Emilia Pérez,” is transgender. Asked where she keeps her trophy, the actor responded: “We have it in my office and my Oscar is gender fluid.” Saldaña added the statue is “trans” and “goes by they/them.”

Zoe Saldaña won the Oscar for supporting actress for playing Rita, an attorney who agrees to help a ruthless cartel leader undergo a sex change operation, in Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez.” The lauded performance swept the 2025 awards season, with Saldaña winning supporting actress prizes from the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards prior to her Oscar night triumph. Saldaña shared the best actress prize at Cannes with “Emilia Pérez” co-stars Karla Sofia Gascon, Selina Gomez and Adriana Paz.

Zoe Saldaña is making a statement: Her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Emilia Pérez” identifies as “trans.” Saldaña, who won the statue for playing a lawyer who helps a cartel boss (Karla Sofía Gascón) undergo gender-affirming surgery, told People that the award “goes by they/them.”

“We have it in my office and my Oscar is gender fluid,” Saldaña said. Saldaña later likened her Oscar win to being “the World Cup of acting,” at least as her sons Zen, Bowie, and Cy with husband and filmmaker Marco Perego understand it. Saldaña also had won a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in “Emilia Pérez.”

The controversial film was nominated for a slew of Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Lead star Gascón, who is trans, was nominated for Best Actress as well.

Saldaña isn’t the first Best Supporting...

With films including “Love Lies Bleeding” and “Queer,” A24 was the only studio to earn a “good” grade from GLAAD for its 2024 slate. On Wednesday, the advocacy group released its annual Studio Responsibility Index, which hands out “pass” or “fail” grades to movies based on their degree of LGBTQ-inclusive content.

Despite receiving 13 Oscar nominations, the Netflix musical “Emilia Pérez” was slammed as “a case study in what not to do when it comes to trans storytelling.” GLAAD called the streamer’s decision to buy and heavily promote the film, which is about a Mexican cartel boss who becomes a trans woman, “extremely disappointing,” and shows “just how much more education needs to be done with Hollywood film executives.”

Overall, queer films dipped 23.6% across major studio releases from 2023, a statistic that GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis said was a “wake-up call to the industry.”

Karla Sofía Gascón in “Emilia Perez...

After countless misfires and successive rejiggings of its committee, France came close to winning its first Oscar for best international feature in over three decades with Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez.” But in a last-minute twist worthy of a movie, “Emilia Perez’s” chances of winning the statuette evaporated following the scandal surrounding Karla Sofia Gascon’s offensive tweets. Ultimately, nothing could stop Brazil from winning with Walter Salles’ heartfelt family saga “I’m Still Here.”

France’s misfortune in this category has often been blamed, among other things, on the abundance of French films to choose from, hence the large margin of error. And it appears that France will once again face an embarrassment of riches and some heated discussions within its selection board.

At this point, no films have been submitted for consideration, but the most likely candidate and probable frontrunner is “Nouvelle Vague,” Richard Linklater’s homage to...

Laura Alvea y José Ortuño dirigen esta superproducción de más de 14 millones de euros de presupuesto. © Isii Group

Comienza el rodaje en Gran Canaria de Trinidad, una película de acción y aventuras, escrita y dirigida por el tándem formado por Laura Alvea (La chica de nieve) y José Ortuño (Normas para una página de sucesos), que nos trasladará al legendario Oeste norteamericano en una historia en la que las mujeres serán las grandes protagonistas.

La película está ambientada a finales del siglo Xix y sigue a una joven española llamada Trinidad (Gabriela Andrada), que llega al Salvaje Oeste acompañada de su madre (Paz Vega) y de su hermana (Sofía Allepuz), huyendo de la justicia que la persigue en su país natal. Desafiando los roles que la sociedad de la época impone a las mujeres, Trinidad descubre su innata destreza con las armas, un talento que le permite mantener a su familia,...

Following reports that Vincent Gallo would star alongside Karla Sofía Gascón in director Stefania Rossella Grassi’s The Life Lift, the actor has denied his involvement in the film and initiated a he-said, she-said back-and-forth.

The Brown Bunny star recently claimed Grassi “knowingly, without my permission, leaked a false rumor” of his casting to the press after presenting the project to him “as if it was financed,” explaining he only “listened to their babble” under that impression, but Grassi has contested his claims.

“As I learned the project was not financed or in real production, I told them I would not discuss the project further until they had financing and a schedule,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “They then asked if they could use my name to help raise financing. I clearly said no. In fact, I also warned them not to use my name in any way or announce to...

For any casual follower of the Oscar race, some of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ newly announced rules might come as a shock. For instance, Academy members now have to watch all nominated films to be eligible to vote — a requirement that will be tricky to regulate in definitive terms, and might make many Oscar watchers wonder, “How was this not a mandate before?”

Other new rules — especially those around artificial intelligence — are less surprising, while still signifying a major step for the Academy towards acknowledging the rapid evolution of generative AI, and its impact on artists and cinematic art.

What exactly is the new AI rule?

As recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, the eligibility requirements for motion pictures contending in the Oscar race now include the following language:

With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film,...

Karla Sofía Gascón became tearful while discussing her possible return to the U.S., explaining that though she believes Emilia Pérez will be a cult film, she feels as though the trans community are “losing their freedom” around the world.

The Oscar-nominated star spoke to The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet of Madrid’s Platino Awards, Ibero-America’s annual film and TV awards ceremony, Sunday night.

While Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical about a drug cartel owner’s transition into womanhood was initially received warmly throughout the festival circuit — with a best actress win for Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez in Cannes — things went awry for Netflix’s top Oscar contender when Gascón’s controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter) resurfaced.

Gascón, the first trans woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, was found to have written racist posts years before her ascension to Hollywood. Statements...

La actriz coprotagonizará el thriller psicológico junto a Vincent Gallo. © Getty Images

La actriz española Karla Sofía Gascón, nominada al Óscar a la Mejor Actriz por su interpretación en Emilia Pérez –y protagonista de una agria controversia durante la temporada de premios debido a antiguos tuits ofensivos– ya ha fichado por su próximo proyecto, de acuerdo con Variety.

Gascón protagonizará junto al polémico Vincent Gallo (Buffalo ’66) –quien fue objeto de denuncias por presunto acoso sexual a tres actrices durante un rodaje– la película The Life Lift, un thriller psicológico dirigido por la debutante cineasta italiana Stefania Rossella Grassi.

The Life Lift gira en torno a Gabriel (Gallo), un personaje torturado que vive en un modesto apartamento de Nueva York y que comienza a recibir crípticos Post-its en el ascensor del edificio. Estos perturbadores mensajes le ordenan ejecutar a tres vecinos, quienes, a su vez, planean eliminar a sus parientes más cercanos.

During the “off season” of the Oscars race, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences likes to make updates to its established rules. In 2025, that’s included the announcement of a new category (Stunt Design coming in 2028!) and requiring that voters actually watch all of the nominated movies. Now, the organization behind the Academy Awards has made a new statement on how using generative AI might affect a movie’s awards chances.

The Academy’s statement on generative AI doesn’t get too deep into the ethics involved or best practices for its implementation, though. Instead, it reads:

With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart...

Karla Sofia Gascón was completely unknown in America before Emilia Perezcame along. Unfortunately, she gained notoriety in all the wrong ways.

Fans of Emilia Perez were thrilled when Gascon became the first openly trans woman nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award, but then it all came crashing down. It transpired that, in the years prior to the movie, Gascón had made racist remarks on social media. The scandal significantly dented her chances of success in Hollywood... but now she's about to star in a new movie.

Gascón will be playing a character in a new film called The Life Lift, directed by Stefania Rossella Grassi, and starring opposite Vincent Gallo. According to promotional materials obtained by Variety, the premise of the film is this: Gallo plays "a tormented character named Gabriel, who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator.

Gold Derby's top news stories for April 17, 2025.

Karla Sofía Gascón finds next movie

Controversial Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, whose Oscar campaign was derailed when offensive tweets she made came to light, has found her next role. She'll be playing a psychiatrist "who embodies both God and the devil" in psychological thriller The Life Lift, opposite actor-filmmaker-provocateur Vincent Gallo, who will play a man who finds post-it notes in his apartment building's elevator that order him to kill his neighbors. The film is being directed by Stefania Rossella Grassi and is slated to shoot later this year.

Clueless series with Alicia Silverstone in the works at Peacock

A new series take on the classic 1995 teen comedy Clueless is in development at Peacock. Alicia Silverstone, the star of the original movie, is set to return as Cher Horowitz, the witty, well-dressed protagonist. Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage...

Karla Sofia Gascon has landed her first role after her controversial social media posts resurfaced.

If you didn’t know, in January, Karla‘s tweets about the George Floyd protests, among numerous other topics, resurfaced. The backlash caused Netflix to pull back its support for her after she was nominated for Best Actress for Emilia Perez at the 2025 Oscars. She has since apologized for the posts.

Now, the 53-year-old actress will star in an upcoming psychological thriller called The Life Lift. The film will be directed by Vincent Gallo, who will also play the main character.

The Life Lift is about a man named Gabriel (Gallo) who encounters mysterious post-it notes in the elevator of his New York apartment. “These messages order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin,” the plot synopsis reads, per Variety.

Keep reading to find out more…...

Following the reveal of past social media posts that made headlines for all the wrong reasons, Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón is once again courting controversy with her new film, The Life Lift. First-timer Italian director Stefania Rossella Grassi is set to helm the project, which will also star Vincent Gallo – who's no stranger to controversy himself – and depict Gascón as a psychiatrist who "embodies both God and the devil."

Variety broke the news about The Life Lift today, which is said to be a psychological thriller that has Gallo portraying a man named Gabriel "who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator." It's giving off series The X-Files vibes already. Materials obtained by the outlet regarding the film note that the messages "order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin.

Actor to follow Oscar-nominated role in Emilia Pérez with Italian drama described as ‘perturbing, livid and hypnotic’, co-starring Vincent Gallo

Karla Sofía Gascón, the actor who made history earlier this year as the first trans performer to be nominated for an acting Oscar, has signalled her next project.

Gascón, whose hopes of securing the leading actress award (which eventually went to Anora’s Mikey Madison) were dashed after offensive social media posts were unearthed, will star as a psychiatrist who “embodies God and the devil” in Italian drama The Life Lift, reports Variety.

What’s next for Karla Sofía Gascón after her controversial awards season for “Emilia Pérez“? Variety reports that the actress will star next in the Italian psychological thriller “The Life Lift,” which, coincidentally enough, sees her co-star with another actor known for courting controversy.

Read More: Karla Sofía Gascón Can’t Stop And It’s A Problem For ‘Emilia Pérez’

So who’s Gascón starring opposite to?

Continue reading ‘The Life Lift’: Karla Sofía Gascón To Star Opposite Vincent Gallo In Upcoming Italian Thriller at The Playlist.

“Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofía Gascón has set her first project after controversy erupted in January over her past offensive tweets. The Oscar nominee revealed that she will lead “The Life Lift,” a psychological thriller co-starring Vincent Gallo and directed by Italian first-timer Stefania Rossella Grassi. According to the film’s synopsis, Gascón is set to play a psychiatrist who “embodies both God and the devil.”

Gallo, the controversial director and star of “The Brown Bunny” and “Buffalo ’66,” is set for a role in “The Life Lift” as a tormented character named Gabriel, who lives in a small New York apartment and becomes persecuted by Post-its left in the building’s elevator. These messages “order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin,” reads the film’s promotional materials, obtained exclusively by Variety.

Gascón first announced last week that she...

Demi Moore revealed she knew Mikey Madison from “Anora” would be the one to take home the Oscar for Best Actress and said she didn’t feel disappointed.

“I leaned over and whispered to my manager, ‘I think it’s going to be Mikey,” Moore told Time magazine Wednesday in an interview. “I don’t know why I knew, but I did.”

Aside from Madison, Moore was up against Cynthia Erivo, Karla Sofía Gascón and Fernanda Torres. For Moore, it didn’t matter who won, as she says she was cool, calm and collected about whatever the outcome may have been.

“I was so centered and calm. I didn’t feel gutted. I didn’t feel any of those kinds of things,” Moore shared. “I just trusted, and am in trust of whatever is going to unfold.”

While she admits it would have been nice to have won, she shares...

Demi Moore has been around for multiple decades, with a series of successful hits at the box office. However, 2024 gave her the critical acclaim she deserves with the horror hit The Substance, which led to her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Moore was among the favorites to take home the gold statuette, especially after Emilia Pérez's Karla Sofía Gascón's controversy. However, once the award show came, the person who was crowned winner was Anora's Mikey Madison. Over a month after the Oscars, Moore reacted to her Oscar loss in an interview with Time magazine.

Moore was named one of 2025's Most 100 Influential Artists, and received a tribute from filmmaker Ryan Murphy. The actress reacted to her Oscar loss and revealed she had a premonition she wasn't going to win during the commercial break before the Best Actress category. "I leaned over and whispered to my manager,...

Ted Sarandos, co-ceo of Netflix, met with Donald Trump in December at the then-President-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida. But according to Sarandos, the two didn’t “talk shop.”

The Netflix boss, speaking Friday at the Paley Media Council event “Beyond the Stream: A Conversation with Ted Sarandos” in New York City, said it was the first time he met Trump. “We had a nice long dinner together,” he said.

Asked by interviewer Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, whether Trump tried to sell Sarandos on the documentary featuring his third wife, Melania — the rights to which were acquired by Amazon — Sarandos said, no, Trump did not. Is Trump a fan of Netflix? “He said Melania and [son] Barron were big fans,” Sarandos said.

Meanwhile, Smith continued, did Amazon “overpay” for the Melania doc? (Amazon is reportedly shelling out $40 million for the film and docu-series about the First Lady.) Sarandos said he didn’t know.

A trio of the biggest British streaming hits have secured numerous nominations for the BAFTA TV Awards 2025, while BAFTA has recognized a stellar year for ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

Baby Reindeer leads the charts across the BAFTA TV and Craft Awards with eight nominations including Limited Drama, Leading Actor for creator Richard Gadd and two Supporting Actresses in Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau. The latter becomes the first openly transgender nominee at the BAFTA TV Awards, several weeks after Karla Sofía Gascón achieved the same in film.

Apple TV+’s Slow Horses and Disney+’s Rivals have six nominations apiece, with Gary Oldman for the former and David Tennant for the latter doing battle in a crowded Leading Actor category, which also features Lennie James (Mr Loverman), Martin Freeman (The Responder) and Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs the Post Office). Danny Dyer, who was expected to secure a nom for Rivals,...

Disney's Snow White remake has finally arrived in theaters following a troublesome production. Much of the movie's problems are related to the backlash on social media over the casting of its lead stars.

Since it was announced that Rachel Zegler would play Snow White in the new Disney film, the film has been subjected to controversy. Some fans argued that it was important for the character to be white, as that's how the fictional character was given her name in the original fairy tale. While promoting the film, Zegler also referred to the original animated Disney film as "weird" with some outdated tropes that wouldn't be included in the remake. This exacerbated the social media backlash, adding to the controversy, though Zegler has since clarified that these were jokes taken out of context.

In any case, Tarsem Singh, the director of Mirror Mirror — the 2012 film based on Snow White — feels...

For years, the Oscars have been riddled with controversy and criticism for being too intertwined with industry politics, trends, and narratives instead of being genuinely praiseworthy of ‘artworks’ that deserve the praise. Well, this year was no different. First, it was the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez and its lead star Karla Sofía Gascón that made this year’s Academy Awards one of the most contentious, lately, it has been Anora’s Oscar wins that have been guiding this discourse.

Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora | Credits: Neon

Anora was rather a surprise winner at the Oscars 2025, as it took home several wins. However, many cinephiles continue to believe that the true standout of the year was Sing Sing. Not only was it unfairly overlooked but its alleged Oscar snubs showcase what Oscar campaigns and studio politics can do to a film worthy of accolades for its profound social impact.

Hollywood Insider - Behind the Hollywood Glitz, Mikey Madison’s Still Just a 25-Year-Old Girl

Mikey Madison, the breakout star of 'Anora', took home the Best Actress Oscar, topping industry veteran Demi Moore, who many believed was finally due for the win after years of acclaimed performances, including her most recent work in 'The Substance'.

Madison, best known for her roles in the five-time Oscar-winning film 'Anora', 'Scream' and 'Scream VI', 'Lady in the Lake','Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood', and 'Better Things', is just beginning to rise in her career—and we can expect big things from her in the future.

A Career-Shaping Night

“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me,” Madison said moments after accepting her first Oscar at 25 years old.

Her award-winning performance in...

Another album release, another whirlwind of fan speculation, this time surrounding Selena Gomez’s latest project. Following the release of her fourth studio album, I Said I Love You First, fans have been eagerly dissecting the lyrics, searching for hints about past relationships.

Selena Gomez | Credit: Spotify via YouTube

Released in collaboration with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, the album has sparked speculation that some tracks might reference her ex, Justin Bieber. As always, fans are diving deep into the songs, trying to decode any hidden messages.

Selena Gomez’s new album sparks speculation if the lyrics are about Justin Bieber

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were once the ultimate sweetheart couple. However, while their relationship fell apart, their past continues to be a topic of discussion, both personally and professionally.

Selena Gomez | Credit: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via YouTube

However, it’s not just one song that fans believe references Bieber,...

While Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón had a lot to say during the run-up to the Oscars this year, she's finally broken her silence following the failed campaign to secure herself a Best Actress trophy. Tweets uncovered by journalist Sarah Hagi derailed Gascón's chances of taking home the coveted award, which would have seen her become the first openly transgender actress to win an Oscar. Instead, the nod went to Mikey Madison for her performance in Anora.

Per Deadline, Gascón chose violence at an event this week to promote her upcoming biography Lo que queda de mi (What's Left of Me), calling herself "less racist than Gandhi" instead of taking the high road and remaining regretful for her past actions. When it came to her bid to win an Academy Award, she said the deck was stacked against her from the start:

It's clear that there was a campaign...

Awards season might be done, but it’s clear that Karla Sofía Gascón still feels raw about her chances of Oscar glory being dashed by her historical social media rants.

The Emilia Pérez star was on course to make history as the first openly transgender actress to win an Academy Award when journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered her questionable X/Twitter missives dating back to 2016.

In posts that went unnoticed by Netflix, Gascón wrote that Islam was a “hotbed of infection for humanity,” described George Floyd as a “drug addict swindler” and said that the 2021 Oscars were an “ugly” “Afro-Korean festival” after triumphs for Minari and Judas and the Black Messiah.

She also pondered that she does not “understand so much about the world war against Hitler, he simply had his opinion about Jews,” and regularly used a Spanish word that translates as “faggot” in English.

Gascón has veered between being...

Blake Shelton is an acclaimed musician famous for his country music and as a coach on The Voice. While he remains a largely positive force and is one of the most revered personalities in the music industry, his life and career are not free of controversy. The Platinum-certified artist once got caught in the internet’s game of keeping accounts, as his old tweets resurfaced.

Blake Shelton | Credit: Instagram/@blakeshelton

Shelton had apparently made several tweets, that ranged from racist to homophobic to just being creepy. Here is a walk down memory lane to revisit one of Shelton’s lowest points of his career.

When Blake Shelton caused a scandal on social media Blake Shelton from his music video She Wouldn’t Be Gone | Credit: YouTube

Blake Shelton, throughout his decades-long career, has achieved some great feats, from nine Grammy nominations to several consecutive chart-topping hits. Yet, the celebrated...

Actor suggests she may have been intentionally smeared and says ‘no one has to forgive me’ after recent controversy

Karla Sofía Gascón has described herself as “less racist than Gandhi” and insisted “no one has to forgive me for anything” as she returns to the public eye after the emergence of offensive social media posts widely thought to have torpedoed the Oscar hopes of her film Emilia Pérez.

The Spanish performer, who became the first transgender woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, was dropped from the film’s campaigning materials by its studio, Netflix, and criticised by colleagues and prominent politicians after the series of old racist and Islamophobic tweets came to light.

Everyone knows about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber’s past relationship and history, their on-and-off romance was a staple in pop culture for years. But post their breakup, their dynamic became bitter, with the duo even engaging in a public feud.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber in 10,000 Hours (music video) | Dan+Shay / YouTube

Fast forward to 2025, and Hailey Bieber is now taking a stand against all the hate that she has faced for years. From arguments on social media to legal battles, the drama around these stars has kept us invested, so let’s dive into the details.

The 2016 Instagram exchange between Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez | Netflix

In August 2016, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez engaged in a very publicized argument on Instagram. It began with the former posting a series of photos with his then-girlfriend, Sofia Richie (via BBC). The couple looked quite cozy...

With over 300 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is the biggest name in the world of streaming, but the company is still chasing Hollywood’s top honour: the Oscar for Best Picture. Although Netflix hasn’t won Best Picture, it’s come close several times; in fact, the studio received the most Oscar nominations out of any studio at the recent Academy Awards ceremony.

While speaking with Variety, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos was asked if he’s disappointed that Netflix has yet to win an Oscar for Best Picture. “It’s hard for me to say, ‘Do they have it out for Netflix?’ when we’ve been the most-nominated studio for the past three years,” Sarandos said. “There’s something about [the Academy] — you nominate the movies that you respect and admire, and you vote for best picture for the movie that you love. We have to make a movie that people love.“

Netflix...

Armie Hammer has returned to public life of late after claims of cannibalism, sexual misconduct and rape upended his career. Although he has yet to land studio work following the controversy, one former collaborator is sharing support for the actor.

Director Tarsem Singh, who cast Hammer as the prince opposite Lily Collins’ Snow White and Julia Roberts’ evil queen in the 2012 film Mirror Mirror, tells The Hollywood Reporter that he continues to be a fan of Hammer’s work and does not feel that the headlines around the star’s personal life should impact his career.

“I love Armie Hammer,” Singh says. “I hope all this crap goes away on what adults do in their own spare time, and if everybody’s a consensual adult, I’m Ok.” (The director notes that he does not know “all the background” on the allegations against Hammer.)

Singh explains that he had not...

From Conan O’Brien’s hosting to Indie and original releases’ dominance, this year’s Oscars was received pretty well among the film community, at least for the most part. The Emilia Pérez movie, which has been at the center of controversy since nabbing four Golden Globe wins, caused a massive uproar after landing a whopping 13 nods at the Oscars.

Emilia Pérez | Credit: Netflix

Although the film did end up losing in most categories, including Best Picture and Best International Picture, some felt Karla Sofía Gascón’s resurfaced tweets might’ve contributed to the Academy voters’ final verdict. But even if this wasn’t the case, Netflix head Ted Sarandos wasn’t completely assured if the film would’ve been a slam dunk hit at the Oscars otherwise.

Ted Sarandos wasn’t completely sold on the prospect of Emilia Pérez winning

While the debate surrounding its quality is up for debate,...

With Daredevil: Born Again streaming on Disney+, fans are finally getting a chance to witness one of their most loved heroes back in action. The talks of Charlie Cox returning to play Daredevil had been making the rounds for years now.

Sadly, fans had to wait for a startling period of 7 years since its last season aired for the news to come true. And while the core of the series is in place, there is one major change – Netflix is out of the picture now. And Netflix co-ceo, Ted Sarandos, has a lot to say about how everything went down.

Ted Sarandos knows that Netflix has to keep pushing Ted Sarandos believes that Netflix just has to make movies that people love || Image by UKinUSA, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Oscars 2025 threw up some surprises indeed. One of the most mystifying ones was that the movie with...

Despite the Karla Sofía Gascón controversy that torpedoed her Oscar campaign for “Emilia Pérez,” the Spanish actress is not persona non grata at Netflix.

In fact, co-ceo Ted Sarandos said he would work with Gascón again, should the occasion arise. “You have to have some grace when people make mistakes,” he said in an interview with Variety out Wednesday. “And we have grace.”

To recap: When Gascón’s past bigoted tweets resurfaced early in the year, a firestorm erupted that pushed Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical out of the top spot for Best Picture. After issuing an apology, the actress stepped away from the campaign trail, opting out of several appearances and awards celebrations and making a teary appearance on CNN en Español in which she defended herself from the outrage. “Yes, the truth is, these have been very, very difficult days,” she said on the show, adding later: “Some...

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos discusses whether the scandal surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweets destroyed Emilia Pérez's chances of winning Best Picture. After receiving 13 nominations and seeming like it was the favorite of the awards season, Emilia Pérez only won two Oscars, and Best Picture went to Anora. This turn of events proved to be among the 2025 Oscars' biggest snubs and surprises and raises questions about whether a Netflix original movie will ever win Best Picture.

While speaking with Variety, Sarandos does not fault Gascón for being the reason Emilia Pérez didn't win Best Picture and breaks down the other factors that were in play. He clarifies that he does not think the Oscars have anything against Netflix, as they have been the most nominated studio in the past three years. Sarandos emphasizes that the Best Picture winner needs to be "a movie that people love" and that this...

Ted Sarandos is talking all things Netflix.

The CEO of the streamer spoke out in a new cover story for Variety, out now.

During the discussion, Ted spoke about Netflix’s competitors including HBO and Amazon, Emilia Pérez, Karla Sofía Gascón‘s tweets and the fact that Netflix has not yet won an Academy Award for best picture, and meeting Donald Trump.

He also spoke about the final season of Stranger Things, whether he can get Taylor Swift on a Christmas Day football game before she does the Super Bowl, the power of Meghan Markle, and much more.

Click through to find out what he had to say…...