Hollywood
Denzel Washington wins Lifetime Achievement Award
NEW DELHI: Well-known actor Denzel Washington received the Donostia lifetime achievement award during the opening gala of the 62 San Sebastian Film Festival, which concluded on 30 September.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer, starring Washington was chosen to open the San Sebastian Festival.
Sixty-year old Washington, is an actor, film director, and film producer. He has received much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Melvin B. Tolson, Frank Lucas, and Herman Boone. Washington is a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and was also a frequent collaborator of the late director Tony Scott.
Washington has received two Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award and two Academy Awards for Best during a career which began in 1974 and in which he has so far starred in about fifty films.
Also, Richard Linklater’s 12-year project Boyhood was chosen the best film of the past year by the members of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESC).
This is the first time a film by Richard Linklater receives FIPRESCI’s Grand Prix, which has already gone to Michael Haneke, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jafar Panahi, Pedro Almodóvar, Jean-Luc Godard, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, among others, since its establishment in 1999.
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.
