Hollywood
Highly-rated at Sundance, musical comedy ‘Frank’ released in the US
NEW DELHI: Lenny Abrahamson’s film ‘Frank’, which got rave reviews at the premiere at Sundance, was released in the United States this week.
The film is about a man named Jon (Domhall Gleeson) who joins the eccentric band ‘Soronprfbs’ led by Frank (Michael Fassbender).
Talking about the movie, Abrahamson said, “I think there are many hooks to the film. The first one is that it is a film with Michael Fassbender wearing a fake head, which is something that is worth talking about and it has been an endless fascination for journalists.”
“The music is another thing that people hold onto,” Abrahamson continued. “The film has also got loads to say about social media, and that is another thing people are really interested in at the moment.”
“’Frank’ is a film which is full of music and is about music. There is an inventive band in the film, so when you invent the band you have to invent their sound and their music, and it so rarely works in films when there is a fictional performer or a fictional musician or band, because they usually sound like they are just doing knock-off songs,” Abrahamson added.
The feature is an Element Pictures/Runaway Fridge production for Film4, BFI, Protagonist Pictures and the Irish Film Board. It stars Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Abrahamson previously helmed ‘Adam & Paul’, ‘Garage’ and ‘What Richard Did’, all IFTA winners.
Besides the US market, the comedy has also sold to Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Italy, Scandinavia, Benelux, Portugal, Turkey, Israel, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Middle East and Singapore.
The screenplay for ‘Frank’ was written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, with music by Stephen Rennicks. The film was produced by Ed Guiney, David Barron and Stevie Lee, with executive producers Tessa Ross, Katherine Butler, Andrew Lowe and Nigel Williams. Film4, the BFI and the Irish Film Board provided funds.
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.
