International
First film on killing of Osama to me aired on 4 November
MUMBAI: The first film, depicting the raid by US special forces to kill the world‘s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden, will hit the American television airways on 4 November, 48 hours before the presidential polls.
Titled Seal Team Six, the film made by National Geographic Channel is all set for opening on 4 November, more than a month before the theatrical release of the much-awaited film by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow Zero Dark Thirty.
The film is directed by John Stockwell and produced by Nicolas Chartier and Weinstein. It stars Cam Gigandet, Anson Mount, Freddy Rodriquez and Xzibit.
“We wanted to be first to bring this story to viewers,” National Geographic Channels president Howard T Owens thas been quoted to have said. Owens, however said that the decision to debut the film days before the election wasn‘t motivated by politics.
Notwithstanding his comments, co-producer of the film Harvey Weinstein is a prominent fundraiser for President Barack Obama, whose election team has made the killing of Bin Laden his major re-election plank.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
