Hollywood
Five European debut films shortlisted for FIPRESCI Prix at European Film Awards
NEW DELHI: Five films have made it to the nominations for ‘European Discovery 2014 – Prix FIPRESCI, an award presented annually by the International Federation of Film Critics as part of the European Film Awards to a young and upcoming director for a first full-length feature film.
This year’s nominations were determined by a committee comprised of EFA Board Members Ilann Girard (France) and Dagmar Jacobsen (Germany), EFA Members Paul Negoescu (Romania) and José Luis Cienfuegos (Spain), as well as Krzysztof Kwiatkowski (Poland), Marco Spagnoli (Italy) and Neil Young (UK) as representatives of FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics.
The nominated films will soon be submitted to the more than 3,000 EFA members to elect the winner. The European Discovery 2014 – Prix FIPRESCI will then be presented at the European Film Awards Ceremony in Riga on 13 December and will be streamed live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu.
The films are: ‘10,000 KM’ from Spain, directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet; ‘71’ from the United Kingdom directed by Yann Demange; ‘Party Girl’ from France directed and written by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis; ‘The Tribe’ from Ukraine written and directed by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy; and ‘Wounded’ from Spain directed by Fernando Franco.
The European Film Awards 2014 are presented by the European Film Academy and EFA Productions with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the Riga City Council, Foundation Riga 2014, Creative Europe MEDIA Sub-Programme, FFA German Federal Film Board, German State Lottery Berlin, German State Minister for Culture and the Media, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg in co-operation with LTV and ZDF/ARTE.
Hollywood
Disney unifies streaming, film, TV and games under Dana Walden
Debra O’Connell to chair Disney Entertainment Television in new setup
LOS ANGELES: The Walt Disney Company is pressing play on a more tightly woven future. As audiences hop between cinema screens, streaming apps and game worlds, the media giant is stitching its storytelling arms into one coordinated machine under Dana Walden.
Set to take charge as president and chief creative officer on March 18, Walden will oversee a newly unified Disney Entertainment structure that brings together streaming, film, television and the company’s fast-expanding games and digital business. She will report directly to incoming chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro.
The thinking is simple. Whether viewers are watching on Disney+, heading to the cinema or diving into a game, Disney wants the experience to feel like chapters of the same story. Walden summed it up as strengthening the emotional thread between Disney’s characters and its audiences, wherever they choose to engage.
The leadership reshuffle reads like a carefully cast ensemble. Alan Bergman continues as chairman of Disney Entertainment, studios, steering film production, marketing and distribution while sharing oversight of direct to consumer.
Streaming gets a dual command. Joe Earley and Adam Smith step in as co-presidents of direct to consumer, jointly handling strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu. Earley will also guide content strategy, while Smith retains his role as chief product and technology officer across Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
A new chair enters the frame with Debra O’Connell taking on the role of chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. She will oversee an expansive slate that includes ABC Entertainment, National Geographic and Hulu Originals, while continuing to supervise ABC News and owned stations.
Gaming, once a side quest, is now a central storyline. Sean Shoptaw, executive vice president, games and digital entertainment, moves into the Disney Entertainment fold. His remit includes partnerships such as the collaboration with Epic Games, aimed at building a Disney universe linked to Fortnite.
Elsewhere, John Landgraf remains chairman of FX, reporting to Walden, while Asad Ayaz continues as chief marketing and brand officer, reporting to both D’Amaro and Walden.
The message behind the reshuffle is clear. Disney is no longer thinking in silos of screens but in stories that travel. And with Walden at the creative helm, the company is betting that a single, seamless narrative can keep audiences hooked, whether they are watching, scrolling or playing.
