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The Alternativa Film Project is holding its second annual film awards ceremony this November in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to recognize independent filmmakers across Asia. More than 650 films were submitted for consideration from 14 countries, double the amount received last year. Among the 25 films shortlisted are 13 feature films and 12 short films representing 20 different languages.

Women directors account for nearly half of the selected films, and nine of the feature films are from first-time directors. Genres include documentaries, dramas, comedies and thrillers addressing important social and cultural issues. “We are celebrating bold voices striving to create change through their work,” said Liza Surganova, who heads the Alternativa Film Project.

An international jury including directors, producers and film institute leaders from India, Indonesia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Iran and Brazil will evaluate the films. The winners in four feature categories will each receive $20,000 in prizes, while two short films will be granted $10,000 awards.

In addition to the November 29 awards ceremony,...

Nishta Jain’s “Farming the Revolution” has won Hot Docs’ Best International Feature Documentary Award, it was announced Friday at the festival’s awards ceremony, held in Toronto at the Centre for Social Innovation–Annex.

Produced by Jain (Raintree Films) and Valérie Montmartin (Little Big Story) and co-directed by cinematographer Akash Basumatari, the film follows the massive year-long gathering of Indian farmers protesting unjust new farm laws that they felt would impact their markets.

The jury said, “‘Farming the Revolution’ spotlights the power of ordinary people with an enduring cinematic sophistication and an indomitable lyrical presence.” The award comes with a Cnd. $10,000 cash prize.

The film, a co-production between India and Norway, now automatically qualifies for consideration in the Academy’s Best Documentary Feature category without the standard theatrical run, providing it complies with Academy rules. It is distributed by Cinephil.

Pablo Álvarez-Mesa’s “The Soldier’s Lagoon”—which traces...

New Delhi, Sep 10 (Ians) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is on a visit to UK, shared a sweet anecdote of an interaction with the immigration officer in London, and how the latter congratulated him for India’s ‘Chandrayaan-3’ success.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ‘Mr India’ director shared a picture of his Indian passport.

Along with that, he wrote: “The question today from the immigration officer in London was not ‘How long are you staying , Sir’.. but ‘Congratulations Sir, on your ‘Moon Landing’. .. #passport”.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has recently achieved the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon.

Shekharmade his directorial debut with cult classic ‘Masoom’ in 1983. He then gained international recognition and acclaim in 1994 with biographical film ‘Bandit Queen’, based on the infamous Indian bandit and politician Phoolan Devi.

He also produced the 1998 romantic thriller ‘Dil Se’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta.

Kids, they change so much from day to day: Sweet Magnolias has recast the role of Maddie Townsend and Bill Townsend’s daughter in the upcoming third season, our sister site Deadline reports.

Bianca Berry Tarantino as Katie Townsend Courtesy of Netflix

Ella Grace Helton (United We Fall) will take over for Bianca Berry Tarantino as Katie Townsend, the young child of Joanna Garcia Swisher and Chris Klein’s divorced characters. Tarantino — who recurred for the first two seasons — had to exit the Netflix drama due to scheduling conflicts and can next be seen in the Apple TV+ limited series Lady In the Lake,...