Hollywood
South Korean trio sweeps Far East Asian awards in Italy
NEW DELHI: South Korea swept the main awards at the 17th Far East Film Festival in Italy over the weekend.
The Festival was held in Udine from 24 April to 2 May. The results were announced after midnight following a closing gala screening of The Taking of Tiger Mountain 3D.
With an average score of 4.44/5 from the audience, J.K. Youn’s Ode to My Father was the most popular film. The drama traces the remarkable globetrotting journey of a man who made immense sacrifices for his family.
The runner-up awards went to Lee Won-suk’s The Royal Tailor and E J-Yong’s My Brilliant Life. Lee won the audience award two years ago with his debut film, How to Use Guys with Secret Tips (2013).
Royal Tailor also won the My Movies Audience Award, voted by users of the Italian film website.
Youn, E and Lee are former guests of the festival. Youn attended with Sex is Zero (2002); E has been a regular guest since An Affair (1998) at the event’s first edition; Lee has attended the event with both his films.
With an average score of 4.15/5.00, Sotho Kulikar’s The Last Reel won the Black Dragon Award, chosen by the festival’s die-hard supporters who purchase premium passes. It is the first Cambodian film to have screened at the event.
The festival also handed awards to Joe Hisaishi, Jackie Chan and Nansun Shi at this year’s edition.
Hisaishi conducted a concert of his music on the eve of the festival. Shi attended last night’s closing film and held an on-stage talk with Marco Muller.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
