Movies
NBA releases short film ‘The Heist II’ ahead of Emirates NBA Cup
Mumbai: The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced the global premiere of ‘The Heist II,’ now available on all NBA social and digital platforms. The film celebrates the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, which begins group play on Tuesday, 12 Nov, featuring a doubleheader on TNT: the New York Knicks at the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 pm ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors hosting the Dallas Mavericks at 10 pm ET.
Set in Las Vegas, ‘The Heist II’ continues last season’s campaign. The film opens with reigning NBA Cup Champion Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers guarding the team’s prized NBA Cup trophy. Still celebrating last season’s win, Davis orders champagne to his penthouse suite, unaware that five other NBA All-Stars—Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)—are plotting to steal the trophy. Emmy-award-winning actor Michael Imperioli reprises his role as the mastermind of the operation, joined by award-winning actress Rosario Dawson.
Despite the players’ stealthy efforts, including decoys and disguises, Dawson and Imperioli stay two steps ahead, ultimately forcing the players to compete for the trophy again.
‘Building off the energy of last year’s successful campaign, THE Heist II continues the fun, exciting story about vying for a new championship for both NBA players and fans alike,’ said NBA CMO Tammy Henault. ‘We expect the familiar story arc of a theatrical heist to resonate with a broad audience and further cement that the Emirates NBA Cup brings a new level of excitement to the early part of the season.’
The full cast of The Heist II includes:
– Michael Imperioli (‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘The Heist’ and more)
– Rosario Dawson (‘He Got Game,’ ‘Rent,’ ‘Ahsoka’)
– Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
– Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
– Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
– Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
– Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
Complimentary spots will debut ahead of the Knockout Rounds and Semifinals and Championship featuring Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill alongside Imperioli and Dawson discussing the final race to the NBA Cup.
Created in conjunction with creative agency Translation, the spot was directed by Paul Hunter and produced by PRETTYBIRD. Additional: 30, 15 and 10-second versions will also air, supported across channels, including linear and connected TV, with complementary creative in out-of-home, digital, social, audio, and print assets.
All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2023-24 regular season. Beginning Tuesday, 12 Nov, and continuing through Tuesday, 3 Dec, each team will play four designated group play games on ‘Cup Nights’ on Tuesdays and Fridays. Broadcast partners ESPN and TNT will air 14 games during group play.
Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds, consisting of single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals, played in NBA team markets on Tuesday, 10 Dec, and Wednesday, 11 Dec. This will culminate with single-elimination Semifinals on Saturday, 14 Dec, and the Championship on Tuesday, 17 Dec, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
