Hollywood
Solid, Moriah forge distribution deal for WWII films
MUMBAI: Solid Entertainment, a leading distributor of factual programming, today announced that it has signed an exclusive two-year distribution deal with two-time Academy Award winning production company Moriah Films for five of their landmark documentaries.
Negotiated by Solid Entertainment founder and CEO Richard Propper and Moriah Films head Rick Trank, the deal includes worldwide broadcast, home video, and DVD rights and comes on the eve of the 60th anniversary (2005) of the end of World War II (WWII).
Solid Entertainments first time offering of such films as Genocide, the first Holocaust documentary to win an Academy Award, The Long Way Home, a second Academy Award winning documentary, In Search Of Peace, Liberation, and the recently completed Unlikely Heroes, comes at the right time to present relevant programming for this monumental anniversary.
The titles included in this deal are: Genocide, which is narrated by Elizabeth Taylor and Orson Welles is the story of the millions of men, women and children who fell victim to Hitler’s Final Solution. A unique multi-image documentary, this programme combines historical narrative with actual stories of ordinary people caught up in the Nazi’s reign of terror.
The Long Way Home is narrated by award-winning actor Morgan Freeman and is a riveting documentary which tells the story of Holocaust survivors in the years 1945-1948 engaged in the battle to rebuild their shattered lives and to recapture human dignity.
In Search of Peace has been narrated by Michael Douglas and chronicles the first two decades of Israel’s existence, offering new insights on the origins of the Middle East conflict. Combining rare archival film and photos, In Search of Peace not only examines events in Israel, but their impact on other places as well – the Arab refugee camps, the General Assembly of the United Nations, Moscow, Paris, London, Buenos Aires, Cairo and Washington DC.
Liberation is narrated by Ben Kingsley and Whoopi Goldberg, and is a programme which focuses on the end of WWII as Hitler continued to persist on two fronts: fighting the allies attempting to liberate Europe and continuing the genocidal war against the Jews. This WWII documentary uses film footage, radio broadcasts, and period music gathered from archives around the world.
Unlikely Heroes, which is Moriah Films’ latest release, is narrated by Kingsley and chronicles the untold stories of Jewish resistance and individual heroism throughout the Nazi Holocaust. Utilising never-before-seen film and photos discovered in European archives, this documentary shatters the myth that the Jewish people did not stand up to the Nazis.
Hollywood
Who won what at the Oscars 2026? Full winners list from the 98th Academy Awards
A night of history, high drama, and gingery wit at the 98th Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES: If the 98th Academy Awards taught us anything, it is that Hollywood still loves a tortured genius and a well-timed ginger joke. While the night was technically a coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling war drama One Battle After Another, the real battle was fought in the stalls of the Dolby Theatre as host Conan O’Brien unleashed a monologue that was part roast, part group therapy session.
The evening belonged to the cinematic heavyweights. One Battle After Another lived up to its title, clinching Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Anderson, the perennial bridesmaid of the Oscars, finally took home the big prizes, cementing his status as the industry’s favourite auteur.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan made history. Winning Best Actor for his visceral performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners, he became only the fourth Black man to win the trophy. His speech was a masterclass in humility, though he spared a moment to thank his trainer for “making me look like I could actually fight a demon.”
The history books were rewritten several times over. Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners. Meanwhile, the newly minted Best Achievement in Casting category saw its inaugural trophy go to the ensemble of One Battle After Another.
Returning to the stage with his signature quiff and self-deprecating bite, Conan O’Brien did not hold back. He began by acknowledging the elephant in the room: his own presence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he quipped. “Why is the ghost of a Victorian chimney sweep hosting the Oscars? It’s because AI is too expensive and I work for sandwiches.”
The controversy kicked off when he turned his sights on the Best Visual Effects nominees. Pointing at the Avatar: Fire and Ash table, he remarked:
“James Cameron has spent so much money on blue people that the actual ocean is now jealous of his budget. Jim, at some point, you have to admit this is just a very expensive aquarium hobby.”
He also took a cheeky swipe at the trend of method acting, specifically targeting Sean Penn.
“Sean stayed in character for so long that his own family had to serve him a subpoena just to get him to come to Sunday roast,” O’Brien joked, to a mix of nervous titters and Penn’s trademark stony glare.
The night was not without its “did he really say that?” moments. During a bit about the length of the telecast, O’Brien noted that the show was running so long that:
“By the time we get to Best Picture, the winner will have already been rebooted as a gritty limited series on Max.”
He also touched on the industry’s obsession with youth, pointing at a young starlet and saying:
“You’re so young that your first memory is actually a TikTok of this monologue.”
While most took it in stride, some critics on social media called the joke “typical boomer energy,” though O’Brien seemed entirely unfazed.
The full winners’ circle:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Original Song: “Golden” from K-Pop: Demon Hunters
As the curtains closed and the A-list headed for the after-parties, the mood was one of relief. Hollywood had managed to celebrate its past while poking fun at its increasingly digital future. Whether the night belonged to the war heroes of PTA or the witty barbs of a tall redhead remains a matter of debate.
