International
Hybe’s K-pop cine fest hits a high note with 320,000 fans across Asia
MUMBAI : Hybe turned the volume up to 11 with its Asia edition of Hybe Cine Fest, drawing over 320,000 fans into more than 370 cinemas across 10 regions from July 10 to 13. Backed by Weverse and in partnership with Trafalgar Releasing, the four-day extravaganza turned multiplexes into mosh pits, K-pop style.
The lineup? A mic-drop of Hybe’s biggest acts: concert films of BTS, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, and Enhypen brought screaming fans back to the front row. The main event? #Runseokjin_Ep.Tour featuring BTS’ Jin was livestreamed from Japan on July 12, sending armies into a euphoric meltdown.
But this was no regular cinema crawl. With Hybe Cinema Noraebang turning theatres into full-blown karaoke sessions, fans belted out 22 iconic tracks from 10 Hybe artists, all while waving lightsticks and dancing in the aisles. Adding to the chaos and charm were selfie booths, dance challenges, and walls where fans left notes for their idols.
First rolled out in Latin America, the cine fest’s Asian sequel played in Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Japan is next on the bill, with encore screenings planned in Indonesia and Hong Kong to keep up with fan frenzy.
For Hybe, it’s not just content, it’s a K-pop carnival on the big screen.
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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.
