Hollywood
Anurag Kashyap on the jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015
MUMBAI: Come January, celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be seen as a part of the jury of an online French film festival – MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015. Kashyap, who is known for all things niche – especially the films he makes and likes to watch – was a part of the festival’s international jury last year.
Bringing the young generation of French filmmakers to the rest of the world, the festival will feature 10 French feature films and 10 French shorts. Beginning from 16 January 2015, the month long online festival will have these films available for viewing to Indian users who can visit VoD platform www.halfticket.tv to catch all the films, free of cost.
“If there is any language I would learn, it will be French,” said the Dev-D director while talking about his love for French cinema and the upcoming film festival. “The people in France, they support cinema, and the liberation from the moral codes in France makes me envious. French films have always taught me to be brutally honest without any fear. I will never miss any chance to watch any film, being a jury is just an excuse to watch all the films of these new filmmakers. And last year I was a jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival in France so why not now in India?”
While talking about the reaction he expects from these films being made available free of cost in India, Kashyap quipped, “I expect the traffic is so much that the VoD platform Halfticket.tv crashes, and after MyFrenchFilmFestival they have to rebuild their website to show more French and international films.”
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
