Hollywood
Jury of the 68th Festival de Cannes announced
MUMBAI: The jury for the 68th Festival de Cannes will see seven key figures in world cinema from Canada, Spain, the United States, France, Mali, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
This year, directors, screenwriters and producers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen have been named as the two presidents of the Jury.
Along with the Coen brothers, the Jury will thus be made up of nine distinctive voices – four women and five men – each with the same voting rights.
Their task will be to decide among the films in competition and select the prize winners, culminating in the Palme d’or, which will be announced on stage during the festival closing ceremony on 24 May.
The jury members are: Rossy de Palma (actress – Spain), Sophie Marceau (actress, director – France), Sienna Miller (actress – United Kingdom), RokiaTraoré (composer, singer-songwriter – Mali), Guillermo del Toro (director, writer, producer – Mexico), Xavier Dolan (director, writer, producer, actor – Canada) and Jake Gyllenhaal (actor – United States).
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.
