Hollywood
Delhi to host global animation film fest in October
NEW DELHI: Delhi will be hosting the India International Animation and Cartoon Film Festival (IIACFF) in October. The festival has roped in actor Javed Jaffrey as the brand ambassador.
Being organized by the International Chamber of Media And Entertainment Industry (ICMEI) and the Asian Academy for Films and Television, the Festival will be held from 1 to 05 October.
IIACFF director Soumendu Sinha entered into an agreement with ICMEI president Sandeep Marwah, who heads Marwah Studio, in this connection.
Marwah said, “Multimedia has taken over not only all the mediums of media, but its intervention in all other businesses is now unavoidable. Animation has emerged as a new industry all over the world. It’s time to make people aware of its qualifications.”
He said the animation industry is growing at the rate of 15 per cent every year. There is hardly an industry, which is not taking the support of animation in different presentations and programmes. “India is still the most cost effective destination to produce animated films and its allied works. We are emerging as one of the biggest animation servicing industry,” Marwah added.
Sinha said, “We have designed this animation festival at Hotel Meridien. Many international and national companies have started finalizing their participation. We want it to be very exclusive. With ICMEI coming on board, we have upgraded the standard of the festival.”
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
