Hollywood
Cannes: Filmmakers asked to apply for India Pavilion by 20 April
NEW DELHI: The India Pavilion at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival next month will be set up once again by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in coordination with and on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
FICCI has asked filmmakers wanting to take stalls or take advantage of other facilities at the India Pavilion to send in their requests by 20 April.
An India Film Guide featuring details of registered participants will also be brought out for distribution during this international fete at the Pavilion.
A major film delegation, led by Ministry joint secretary Sanjay Murthy and Directorate of Film Festivals C Senthil Rajan, is expected to attend the meet.
The India Pavilion will be showcasing Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural and regional diversity with the aim of forging an increasing number of international partnerships in the realms of distribution, production, script development and technology, and promoting film sales and syndication.
Promoting India as a film destination will be a major emphasis this year and details will be given about the advantages of filming in India.
The 68th Cannes Film Festival is being held at the coastal city of Cannes in France from 13 to 24 May.
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.
