Hollywood
Filipino festival cancels feature competition for lack of funds
NEW DELHI: The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has cancelled plans for a feature film competition this year.
Organisers blame the decision on the late approval of this year’s budget, which was only confirmed in December.
Indications had come in November of the potential cancellation of this year’s New Breed competition section after CCP vice president Chris Millado raised the possibility at a forum in Vietnam.
In place of its competition section, this summer’s 11th edition- held 7 to 14 August, 2015- will host a retrospective of selected features from its first 10 years. The competition will return in 2016 without the New Breed section.
For its 12th edition, Cinemalaya will increase its grants from 500,000 to 750,000 ($17,000). The ten finalists — who will have 12 months to produce their films — will be announced at the closing ceremony of this year’s festival.
The festival will remain at the Cultural Center of the Philippines | Sentrong pangkultura ng Pilipinas despite interest to relocate the event in Metro Manila’s Quezon City by its mayor. Additional screenings will be hosted at regular partner malls in Makati City and Quezon City within Metro Manila.
Earlier this month, film director Laurice Guillen was appointed president of the Cinemalaya Foundation. She previously held the position of competition chairman.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
