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The success of 'Squid Game' is due to Netflix's 'local-first' strategy, says Minyoung Kim, VP Content Asia Netflix’s success with ‘Squid Game’ is due to a local strategy, reveals Minyoung Kim, VP of Content for Asia at Netflix. Speaking to Variety , Kim explained that Netflix focuses on cultural specificity rather than seeking universal appeal.

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Cannes Directors' Fortnight Reveals 2025 Line-Up Including Christian Petzold's 'Miroirs No. 3', Eva Victor's 'Sorry, Baby', Robin Campillo's 'Enzo' The 57th edition of Directors' Fortnight, an independent selection during the Cannes Film Festival, presents a varied line-up. The opening is provided by "Enzo" by Robin Campillo, who took over the direction after the death of Laurent Cantet.

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Netflix files appeal to French Council of State over distribution rules Netflix has appealed to the French Council of State against French regulations regarding the availability of films on streaming services. Current rules require Netflix to wait 15 months before new films are available on its platform.

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New Oscar for stunt design In 2028, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences will introduce a new Oscar category for best stunts, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Oscars. Leitch emphasizes the importance of stunts in film history and the contribution of stunt designers and performers.

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Young talents prepare for participation in Cannes' Un Certain Regard The Un Certain Regard selection of the 78th Cannes Film Festival (13-24 May 2025) features 16 films from various countries, including eight debut features.

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French production hits near record high in 2024 as streamer funding skyrockets 60% In 2024, France produced a record 309 films, almost the same as in 2021, according to a report from the National Film Board.

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Werner Herzog is honored with the Golden Lion for his oeuvre at the Venice Film Festival German director Werner Herzog will be honored with the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The festival runs from August 27 to September 6.

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Could Trump's Tariffs Lead to China Banning Hollywood Films? Warner Bros. and Legendary's "A Minecraft Movie" dominated the Chinese box office this past weekend, breaking the dominance of "Ne Zha 2." However, with U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump set to rise from 54 percent to 104 percent, China is considering retaliatory measures that could limit Hollywood's access to the Chinese market.

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Mediavision reports huge increase in piracy in Scandinavian countries Mediavision reports a sharp increase in illegal IPTV usage in the Nordics, especially in Sweden. In the fall of 2024, more than 700,000 Swedish households paid for such services, an increase of 25% compared to the spring.

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A Minecraft Movie is already breaking records Despite negative reviews, "A Minecraft Movie" enjoyed a record-breaking opening weekend in 2025, marking the best opening ever for a video game adaptation in the U.S., where it grossed $157 million. Internationally, it grossed another $144 million. Movie" in 2023.

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Panama is making new plans to grow its film industry and attract more people Panama is working to strengthen its film industry with new initiatives led by Vice Minister of Culture Arianne Benedetti. Enhanced incentives are being proposed, including increased cash-back rebates and more support for the Panamanian Film Fund.

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Co-production boost and solid financing system feed a healthy harvest of Swiss films at Visions du Réel The Visions du Réel film festival in Switzerland, taking place from 4 to 13 April 2025, will feature 31 Swiss productions and co-productions, including the opening film "Blame" by Christian Frei.

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