Hollywood
Japanese film bags top prize at ‘Moscow International Film fest’
NEW DELHI: Kumakiri Kazuyoshi’s Japanese film My Man won two major prizes at the 36th Moscow International Film Festival which concluded recently.
The drama, about a relationship between a man and his young adopted daughter, won the Golden George for Best Film and the Silver George Best Actor prize for actor Asano Tadanobu.
The film — co-starring Nikaido Fumi and Fuji Tatsuya — is now being screened on 9 July at the New York Asian Film Festival. It opened in Japan on 14 June through Nikkatsu Corporation.
The Japanese film and South Korea’s The Avian Kind were the only Asian films in this year’s competition. Tsai Ming-liang’s Stray Dogs, Japanese comedy, animated film Giovanni’s Island were also screened along with a section devoted to Chinese cinema.
The Jury Prize went to Turkey’s Eye Am, and Russia’s Veleria Gai Germanika won the Best Director prize for Yes and Yes.
Festival organisers announced that this year’s edition was attended by 75,000 people.
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.
