International
The Dark Knight Rises crosses $300 mn at worldwide box-office
MUMBAI: In less than a week of its release, Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises has crossed the $300 million mark at the worldwide box office.
On Wednesday, The Dark Knight Rises got off to a spectacular start in France grossing $2.7 million to score the best opening day record of the year, according to early estimates.
The superhero film, that opened in North America and 17 foreign markets last weekend, is making a major international push this week as it rolls out in additional 40 countries. On Thursday, it will open in Germany and Russia followed by numerous other territories on Friday.
Through Tuesday, the film‘s domestic gross went beyond $198 million, slightly behind The Dark Knight that had earned $203.8 million. Overseas, it earned an outstanding $110 million.
Dark Knight Rises debuted to $160.9 million domestically, the third-best debut of all time and the best ever for a 2D title. Insiders believe the film lost as much as between $10 to $20 million because of the shoot out at Aurora Cinema, Colorado.
Like exhibitors in the US, foreign theatre circuits are tightening up security in the wake of last Friday‘s shooting that left at least a dozen people dead and 58 injured.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
