Hollywood
LA Femme International Film Festival extends entry dates
NEW DELHI : The LA Femme International Film Festival, a premier festival that focuses on platforming women filmmakers “by women, for everyone”, has extended the last date for receiving entries to 16 August and may also accept exceptional films till 23 August.
The Festival was started in 2005 when it became apparent that there was a need to enhance women behind the camera as directors, producers and writers. This year, it will be held from 16 to 19 October in Los Angeles.
LA Femme International Film Festival is more than a festival. It is an emergence of artistic, professional women who can make a difference in the entertainment community by creating productions that speak to a worldwide audience. It is the only festival of its kind to not only give a platform for existing films and artists but will also assist in distribution and mentoring of such films and their artists.
The organisers ensure that filmmakers get seen and are pro active in helping them achieve their dreams.
Sections include features made in the United States or internationally which are directed, produced or written by a woman of any ethnicity.
Documentaries, competition films can be international or domestic in origin and they must be directed, produced or written by a woman.
The screenplays section is a separate category in addition with the other Feature Film categories. This can be a screenplay, stage play or teleplay.
The shorts category is for a woman who has directed, produced or written a short film. There is a commercials/music videos category, a category of mid-length films of forty to sixty minutes, mobisodes, websisodes, games, animation shorts, and special documentary of focus.
The special documentary of focus (feature or short) category is for those films that have a specific subject of: animal rights / activism/ awareness (dog, cat, wild animals), nature, green plant, ocean. All others should submit to the regular documentary categories.
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.
