Movies
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ wins big at the UK-Asian Film Festival 2024
Mumbai: The debut Directorial of actor Anshuman Jha – ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ – bagged him the ‘BEST Director’ award & his leading man Arjun Mathur the ‘Best Actor’ Award at the prestigious UK-Asian Film Festival 2024.
The black comedy thriller – which has been having a wonderful festival run over the past 6 months – got a standing ovation at packed theatre at the historic Regent Street cinema in London last Saturday.
And the team was present to feel the audience loved. Says Anshuman ‘This win feels like a full circle for it has come in the UK. The film is about Asians in the West, identity, immigrants – thereby we are thrilled on the win in London. Because we shot the film in the UK & have been travelling with it around the world & now to win at our British Premiere is something I am truly grateful for. Especially for Arjun because I truly feel this film is one of his finest, if not, his best performance. Films need to entertain and ask questions. Can’t wait for it to release later this year.’
Lord Curzon is the first mainstream Indian feature films which has been entirely shot on a single lens technique & has been garnering applause around the world for it.
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.
