Hollywood
Films Division complex can become a hub for Indian cinema: Mukesh Sharma
NEW DELHI: Actor Jackie Shroff – the brand ambassador of the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, short and animation films – could not have a better 59th birthday.
After attending an Animation Workshop and between eating pieces of cake, Jackie gushed: “You know, I spent my birthday today attending a class in animation filmmaking by Italian filmmaker Luca Rafaelli and India’s Dhwani Desai.”
Shroff was addressing a mid-fest press meet yesterday with Festival Director Mukesh Sharma who had surprised him with a birthday cake. The Press Information Bureau which put up the Media Centre also gave him a separate cake.
Speaking at the press meet, Sharma said that he was convinced that the festival could do with several changes but he would consider these after the Festival was over. “There is always scope for improvement,” he added.
Sharma said there were several impediments but he and his team overcame these one by one. He said with the Museum of Indian Cinema getting ready by the next MIFF, the Films Division complex could become a very good hub of cinema.
The simultaneous screenings of national films as part of the MIFF Zone in nineteen cities had been very encouraging. He would also explore starting the weekly FD Zone in Delhi.
He said in answer to a question that Prasar Bharati had assured him about considering the suggestion for a separate documentary
Shroff said the Festival had been a learning for him. Animation was very close to his heart and he had seen several good films at the Festival. He wanted filmmakers to work towards oneness.
He also felt MIFF should be an annual Festival and not come every two years.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
