International
Hybe brings K-pop to the big screen with Cine Fest Asia – four days, five mega acts, all fandoms
MUMBAI: Move over Marvel, K-pop is taking over the multiplex. Hybe and Trafalgar Releasing are lighting up 350 cinemas across Asia from July 10–13 with Hybe Cine Fest in Asia, the region’s biggest K-pop film event yet. Sponsored by Weverse, the four-day fiesta features five electric concert films and a sing-along session that promises to turn movie halls into mini stadiums.
Tickets go live June 4 at 8:00pm KST in most territories, with India, Japan and Korea following suit shortly. Fans can register and track updates on www.hybecinefest.com.
What’s playing on the K-pop big screen?
The festival is stacked with star power:
* BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E – A visual juggernaut from their 2020 online concert era, returning to engulf ARMY in cinematic scale.
* SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [BE THE SUN] – From Seoul to the Tokyo Dome, the boyband’s arena-roaring tour is reborn in Dolby glory.
* TOMORROW X TOGETHER ACT : SWEET MIRAGE – TXT’s dreamy, high-octane 2023 tour now has its own encore in cinemas.
* ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR [FATE] – From rookie to global sensation, ENGENEs get front-row seats to their meteoric rise.
* Hybe Cinema Noraebang – A karaoke-cinema crossover where fans belt out bangers from BTS, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, TWS and more.
Not just screenings – it’s an IRL K-fan party
With special zones in cities like Seoul (CGV Yongsan), Singapore (Shaw JEWEL), Manila (SM MOA), Bangkok (SF Central World), and Taipei (Vieshow Qsquare), fans can expect exclusive merch, photo ops, and surprises galore. India and Japan special location details are still under wraps.
Why now?
After clocking over 260,000 footfalls in Latin America last year, Hybe is ready to replicate the frenzy across Asia. And with cinemas still rebounding post-pandemic, K-pop might just be the new summer blockbuster formula.
Get your lightsticks ready – this July, the stage is cinematic.
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.
