Hollywood
Japanese film bags first Japan-Estonia partnership award
NEW DELHI: The first Tallinn Black Nights Japan-Estonia Partnership Award was presented to Kawaguchi Hirofumi’s Where the Peacocks Fly at the close of TIFFCOM Co-Pro Connection.
The award, initiated by Sten Saluveer, industry director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, goes to one of the five Japanese projects presented at TIFFCOM this week deemed to have the most potential as a European co-production.
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The winning project was chosen because the film-makers always had a European aesthetic in mind, including the hiring of a European Director of Production. The film’s producer, Kimura Misa will be invited to meet European investors in Tallinn next month.
Peacocks, a co-production between Japan and Myanmar, is about a 17-year-old cosplay idol who sets out to prove the innocence of the Burmese refugee blamed for killing her sister. She emails her fans to join her on a trip to Myanmar, transforming into a Fighting Peacock of justice.
Before presenting the award, Saluveer introduced his festival, noting that 40 per cent of the films are from Asia, and popular with their audience. He said the festival had been exploring how to work more closely with Asian producers for some time but only now has financial support from its government.
The other Japanese projects presented at the TIFFCOM event this week include Mariko Tetsuya’s exploration of violence All About Fighting, Sabu cross-media project Ten no chasuke and Jason Gray’s thriller Where Wolves Fear to Prey.
Producers attending the event said the event had been very useful in clarifying what opportunities were available in Japan. The project market operates on a small budget with no awards or official parties. It is looking at finding other partners who can present in-kind awards at next year’s event.
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.
