Hollywood
Entries invited for 16th Calgary International Film Festival
NEW DELHI: The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has invited entries from filmmakers all over the world.
The 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre films from Canada and over 40 other countries will be held from 23 September to 4 October. The entries close on 15 June.
The festival hosts gala events, screenings, award ceremonies and special presentations. A large number of participating filmmakers from around the world connect with the audience through post-screening question and answer periods, and through panels and film talks open to the general public.
Each year’s line-up is presented in series that group CIFF’s offerings into easily identifiable categories including Canadian, American and world cinema, documentaries, late shows, music on screen and shorts. A number of awards are selected by audiences and juries for outstanding films and performances.
In a release, CIFF said that it “exists to transform the way visual stories are shared and experienced. The aim is to discover and share the best and most remarkable, especially those that would not otherwise be seen.”
CIFF’s vision emphasizes discovery and it claimed to have been the platform for debutantes including new filmmakers, particularly championing and fostering Alberta’s own creative voices.
Films invited to the 2015 Festival are automatically considered for nomination in all Award categories for which they are eligible. Nominations are made on the basis of achievement in form and content in their category by a jury of industry experts and leading cultural figures from Canada.
The awards are: Discovery Award for Emerging Filmmakers (Feature films only – Documentary and Narrative categories) – Audience vote; Alberta Spirit (Shorts films only) – Jury award; Audience Choice Award (Feature & Short films – various categories).
Only films completed after 1 January, 2014 and not previously submitted to CIFF are eligible.
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.
