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Variety hosted a panel for six short films, moderated by Senior Artisans Editor Jazz Tangcay, as part of the Variety Streaming Room series. Among the films featured on the panel were “Au Revoir Mon Monde” from co-directors Florian Maurice and Astrid Novais, “Bottle George” from director Daisuke Tsutsumi, “Edge of Space” from director Jean de Meuron, “I’m Not a Robot” from director Victoria Warmerdam and producer Trent, “The Masterpiece” from director Alex Lora and “The Last Ranger” from director Cindy Lee and writer David S. Lee.

Maurice shared how the inspiration for “Au Revoir Mon Monde” came from his own lived experiences. Listening to a song about the difficulties of relationships, the co-director reflected on the loss of his father at age six and was drawn to crafting a narrative centered around human grief.

“I wanted to make a story about grieving,” Maurice said. “Taking the theme of the end...

Exclusive: Sugar23 has named Alec Stern Vice President of Production for Film & TV, promoting Jacob Snyder to Literary Manager.

In his new role, Stern will advance Sugar23’s focus on developing impactful content. He brings with him a breadth of experience from previous roles at Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content, FX, and WME. Most recently, he served as Director of Original Content at Paramount+, following his position as Director of Development at Paramount Television Studios. At Paramount, he played a key role in developing and producing standout series including The Offer, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Fatal Attraction, and Rabbit Hole.

Snyder began his career at UTA before joining Sugar23 and quickly establishing himself as a rising talent. Going forward, he’ll continue to guide a dynamic roster of clients across the literary and talent departments, including working on the teams of Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), Diane Lane (The Perfect Storm...

Los Tigres Del Norte, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Chiquis Rivera, and more than 20 other Hispanic artists are coming together to condemn the Trump campaign’s anti-Latino and anti-immigrant rhetoric in a new statement, shared exclusively with Rolling Stone Wednesday.

“There are real and substantive issues that can and should be debated. The dignity of Latino immigrants is not open for debate,” reads the statement. “Together we say to those spreading hate that we choose something better. Together we say enough is enough… ya estuvo.”

The group of stars signing the “Ya...

Greta Gerwig is set to be honored with the Pioneer of the Year Award by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.

The “Barbie” writer and director will receive the award at the Pioneer of the Year Dinner, set for Sept. 25 at The Beverly Hilton. The event benefit will honor Gerwig and raise proceeds for Wrmppf’s Pioneers Assistance Fund, a charity that provides financial assistance and supportive counseling to individuals in the motion picture distribution and exhibition community in times of need.

The award is honored to members of the motion picture industry with exceptional leadership, service to the community and commitment to philanthropy.

Gerwig, who has written and directed Oscar-nominated films like “Lady Bird,” and “Little Women,” is currently working on an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” book series for Netflix. In February, the actor, writer and director revealed that a script for the...

The 36th edition of Ireland’s Galway Film Fleadh has come to an end with Best Irish Film going to breakout hit Kneecap, which played at Sundance earlier this year and was picked up by Sony Classics. Scroll down for a full list of winners.

Written and directed by Rich Peppiat and produced by Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling, Patrick O’Neill, the film is the story of the eponymous Belfast hip-hop trio, played in the movie by group members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. Michael Fassbender also stars. The film also won the Audience Award and the Irish Language Feature Film Award, a feat that has never happened at the Fleadh in 36 years.

Best Irish First Feature was Fidil Ghorm directed by Anne McCabe, written by Patricia Forde and produced by Pierce Boyce and Bríd Seoighe. Pic tells the story of 10-year-old Molly, who believes that if she learns...

The Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) announced the winners of its 17th edition where it showed 60 films representing 25 countries from over 600 submissions.

The jury announced the following winners chosen from the 24 films in-competition on 6 June:

Best Feature Documentary: No More History Without Us, Priscilla Regis Brasil (Brazil)

Jury Statement: “As media becomes shorter, our memory is also drawn to something immediate and new. History is forgotten, while the impact is neglected. This film is a brave, brilliant, and meticulous undertaking of narrative change by and for Amazonian, which resonates throughout the Global South.”

Best Short Documentary: Nusa Ina, Anne Jan Sijbrandij (Netherlands)

Jury Statement: “We were moved by this film and the plight of displaced people so well told in the film as the reason short documentaries are so important, they are using film to preserve history and as a form of activism, which gives them an enduring power.”

Best Short Narrative: The Masterpiece,...

Roku is continuing its lineup of Spanish-language originals with five new series from creators such as Juanpa Zurita and Jaime Camil. But that’s not all. The streaming player-turned-content hub also announced the premiere date for Season 3 of “Un Millón de Gracias” from Jennifer Lopez. Previously titled “Thanks a Million,” this year will mark the series’ first Spanish-language season as a new batch of celebrities give back to the people who have influenced them the most.

Each episode of “Un Millón de Gracias” follows a different celebrity who has been asked to give away $100,000 to someone who has inspired them by being a hero in their community. But once that person has been gifted $100,000, they will have to give away half of it to someone who has inspired them. This season’s celebrities will include Chiquis, Gina Torres, Jaime Camil, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Lauren Jauregui, Michael Peña, Michelle Rodriguez, Pau Gasol,...

Roku expanded its slate of Spanish originals, adding six new unscripted series from Latino voices and creatives including Jennifer Lopez, Juanpa Zurita and Jaime Camil.

The six new original series — “Carpe Dm with Juanpa,” “Desde la Raíz,” “Serenata De Las Estrellas,” “La Divina Comida,” “Batalla en Abuela’s Kitchen,” “Un Millón de Gracias”— feature stars including Wilmer Valderrama, Belinda, Sofia Reyes and Michael Peña.

“The deep engagement we have seen within the Spanish-language content category on The Roku Channel in the U.S., as well as the exceptional growth of the service in Mexico, are all signs of the strong appetite for free ad-supported streaming amongst Spanish-speaking and bilingual audiences,” said David Eilenberg, head of content, Roku Media. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality, culturally relevant original programming to tens of millions of viewers, and we are thrilled to welcome such an exceptional new group of on-camera and off-camera creative...