Hollywood
3D Guild formed; initiates 3D awards
NEW DELHI: A new 3D Guild has been conceived to link professionals from all over the world who share a passion for 3D, in order to help them to work in concert, to push always further back the fascinating and sometimes surprising frontiers of 3D.
Additionally the 3D Guild has also instituted a new award to recognize and honour the best productions and other masterpieces in 3D. The 3D Guild Award will be presented every year for the best films made globally in 3D.
The award instituted by the new association 3D Guild will be given out on 17 December during the 3D Stereo MEDIA event, traditionally held in Li?ge, Belgium, since 2009.
The jury will meet in London in November to identify the first winners of the 3D Guild Award.
A decision to this effect was taken by the 3D Guild in a meeting at the American Pavilion during the Cannes International Film Festival.
The idea of creating a new association and a new award for 3D was initially proposed by the two organizers of this major internationally acclaimed event, Prof. Jacques G. Verly (University of Li?ge, School of Engineering) and Alain Gallez (Image & 3D Europe). They received full support from several key actors of 3D in Europe, and defined with them the details of the new association and award. They also consulted with the Advanced Imaging Society – formerly called the International 3D Society – to work synergistically with it, in the best interest of 3D worldwide. The new award was designed by a young Belgian designer Thien Vo.
The 3D Guild was officially founded on 8 May, as an international non-profit organization, symbolically headquartered in the Capital of Europe, Brussels. Its 11 founding members come from Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
The 3D Guild defines itself to be “an association of people for people,” devoid of any corporate influence. In the same spirit, the 3D Guild Awards will go to people, as opposed to content (even if the selection is based on the screening of content).
The initial presidency of the Guild was entrusted to Prof. Verly, and the co-presidency to Angus Cameron (Vision3, UK) and Joséphine Derobe (Stereographer, FR).
The 3D Guild will initially focus on the domains of entertainment (cinema, television, virtual/augmented reality, video games) and research, the latter cutting across all applications of 3D.
Hollywood
Paramount seeks FCC nod for foreign-backed $110 billion WBD deal
Gulf funds back merger as foreign stake nears 50 per cent, control stays with Ellison
NEW YORK: Paramount Global has approached the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for foreign investments tied to its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking another key step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
According to regulatory filings made public this week, the investment backing the deal includes major Gulf sovereign funds such as the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority and L’imad Holding Company. Together, foreign investors are expected to hold just under 50 per cent of Paramount’s equity once the transaction is complete.
Despite the sizeable international backing, Paramount has made it clear that voting control will remain with the family of chief executive David Ellison, ensuring the company stays firmly under US control as required by broadcasting rules.
A company spokesperson described the FCC filing as routine for transactions involving foreign capital and stressed that it does not impact the closing of the deal. Under US law, any significant foreign ownership in broadcast licence holders must undergo regulatory review.
The merger itself has already cleared a major hurdle, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approving the deal on 23 April. The transaction values the company at $31 per share, a 147 per cent premium to its earlier trading price, reflecting strong strategic intent behind the tie-up.
If completed, the combined entity will bring together a vast portfolio including Warner Bros. film studios, HBO Max, and networks such as CNN, TNT and Discovery Channel. The deal is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
However, scrutiny is intensifying. The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas seeking details on the merger’s potential impact on cinema competition, streaming services and content licensing. Reviews are also anticipated in international markets, including the United Kingdom.
There is also a financial safety net built into the agreement. If regulators ultimately block the deal, Paramount would face a $7 billion break-up fee. Additionally, the company has taken on $2.8 billion in obligations previously owed by Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix following an earlier terminated arrangement.
Paramount maintains that easing foreign ownership barriers will unlock fresh capital and strengthen its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving media landscape. For now, the spotlight remains on regulators, whose decision will determine whether this global media consolidation moves from script to screen.
