Hollywood
Venice Film Festival is on for September
MUMBAI: The Venice film festival will not be postponed and will be held as planned, reports Variety.
The website has quoted Veneto governor Luca Zaia as saying that the world’s longest-running film festival will take place between September 2 and 12.
The prestigious film festival will be held as planned, even though the number of films will be less than the normal this year.
Though the Venice Biennale, which oversees the film festival, postponed its Biennale of Architecture to next year, has been postponed, the film festival’s dates weren’t changed.
The Biennale of Architecture was postponed, according to the governor, due to complexities with regard to building the pavilions.
Venice had sent a letter to film industry executives, filmmakers, actors and producers if they are willing to attend the film festival. They were also asked to share their concerns and suggestions about the festival.
The letter, signed by Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera, also asked producers and sales agents about the possibility of “bringing talent to accompany the invited films.”
It further said: “We know that it would be simply impossible to plan a festival without knowing if you all are willing to use the Festival to give a new start and a strong sign for keeping cinema alive, even in these difficult times.”
The oldest film festival in Europe, the Venice Film Festival started in Venice, Italy in August 1932. It is considered one of the big five film festivals, like the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Sundance Film Festival in the US. The festival is part of the Venice Biennale, one of the oldest exhibitions of art in the entire world, founded by the Venice City Council on 19 April 1893. The festival is held on the island of the Lido in the Venice Lagoon.
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Hollywood
Paramount seeks FCC nod for foreign-backed $110 billion WBD deal
Gulf funds back merger as foreign stake nears 50 per cent, control stays with Ellison
NEW YORK: Paramount Global has approached the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for foreign investments tied to its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking another key step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
According to regulatory filings made public this week, the investment backing the deal includes major Gulf sovereign funds such as the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority and L’imad Holding Company. Together, foreign investors are expected to hold just under 50 per cent of Paramount’s equity once the transaction is complete.
Despite the sizeable international backing, Paramount has made it clear that voting control will remain with the family of chief executive David Ellison, ensuring the company stays firmly under US control as required by broadcasting rules.
A company spokesperson described the FCC filing as routine for transactions involving foreign capital and stressed that it does not impact the closing of the deal. Under US law, any significant foreign ownership in broadcast licence holders must undergo regulatory review.
The merger itself has already cleared a major hurdle, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approving the deal on 23 April. The transaction values the company at $31 per share, a 147 per cent premium to its earlier trading price, reflecting strong strategic intent behind the tie-up.
If completed, the combined entity will bring together a vast portfolio including Warner Bros. film studios, HBO Max, and networks such as CNN, TNT and Discovery Channel. The deal is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
However, scrutiny is intensifying. The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas seeking details on the merger’s potential impact on cinema competition, streaming services and content licensing. Reviews are also anticipated in international markets, including the United Kingdom.
There is also a financial safety net built into the agreement. If regulators ultimately block the deal, Paramount would face a $7 billion break-up fee. Additionally, the company has taken on $2.8 billion in obligations previously owed by Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix following an earlier terminated arrangement.
Paramount maintains that easing foreign ownership barriers will unlock fresh capital and strengthen its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving media landscape. For now, the spotlight remains on regulators, whose decision will determine whether this global media consolidation moves from script to screen.
