ITV

Category: Hindi

  • Zee Cinema’s world television premiere of The Master on Sunday

    Zee Cinema’s world television premiere of The Master on Sunday

    Popular Hindi movie channel Zee Cinema’s world television premiere of the pan-Indian blockbuster The Master is on Sunday, 30 May at 08.00 pm. The Master is the Hindi dubbed version of Vijay’s Tamil blockbuster Master, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.   

    During the lockdown, Hindi movie channels witnessed a remarkable increase in viewership, and the dearth of Bollywood movies played a crucial role in elevating the popularity of south Indian movies among Hindi-speaking audiences. Zee Cinema, with its world television premiere of The Master, will cater to a large segment of audiences who tune into southern movies dubbed in Hindi.  

    The Master revolves around the story of two people, JD, a college professor, and Bhavani, a criminal. Bhavani exploits youngsters at a juvenile detention centre. Things take a new turn in their lives when JD is appointed as a teacher at the detention centre. As days go by, events lead him to uncover a heinous plot by Bhavani. What follows is a thrilling battle to protect the juveniles and unmask Bhavani.  

    Vijay plays the role of JD in The Master, while acclaimed actor Vijay Sethupathi can be seen enacting the role of the deadly Bhavani. The supporting star cast includes Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, and Andrea Jeremiah.  

    Talking about The Master, director Lokesh Kanagaraj said, “The two big stars Thalapathy Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi coming together added to the scale of the movie. It was a great experience to work with them. I wanted this movie to have a mass appeal. When your work receives so much love and appreciation from the audience you automatically get inspired to make more movies to entertain them.”  

    “This was my first film with Vijay sir and it was really exciting for me to share the screen with him. Working with a sensation and an icon made this experience even more exciting for me. It was great to be a part of the movie where some of the best artists like Thalapathy Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Anirudh and Lokesh came together,” said Malavika Mohanan about the movie.

  • Filamchi inks a strategic partnership with Chingari app

    Filamchi inks a strategic partnership with Chingari app

    MUMBAI: Filamchi, a Bhojpuri movie channel from the house of IN10 Media Network has signed a strategic partnership with Chingari, a homegrown short video app for live streaming of its world TV Premieres.

    The association will commence with the premiere of the movie Loha Pahalwan, which will be live-streamed on the Chingari app. The tie-up marks a first in the genre as a TV channel and short video platform will integrate to enhance a multi-viewing experience for the audience.

    Speaking on the plan of action, Chingari’s co-founder and CEO, Sumit Ghosh said, “This is one of its kind collaboration where a film will be premiered and made available to the audience through not just TV channel, but also through a short-video platform which will not only expand the audience base but provide a new way of live streaming films in the current digital world. Evolution is the key and Chingari aims to continue collaborating and evolving the space of digital media to the best of its capabilities so that the audience and creators both benefit from it.”

    Commenting on the association, IN10 Media Network, AVP-Marketing, Vinita Shrivastav, said, “The Bhojpuri market has the potential to grow as the audience seeks more localized and relatable content. In today’s multiscreen world, we need to be omnipresent to reach out to our viewers and let them experience content across platforms. The association will aid the platforms in increasing their audience base and engaging them across Bhojpuri movie fans.”

    Talking about the collaboration, app’s co-founder, and COO, Deepak Salvi said, “The contest on Chingari is to provide an overall benefit to both the film creators and the Chingari creators. Pawan Singh is one of the most renowned actors of Bhojpuri Cinema and hence it is authentic entertainment being made available for our audience along with a chance to win a huge cash prize.”

    The live streaming is supported by a dialogue challenge #mainbhifilamchi where Chingari users can create interesting videos on Pawan Singh’s dialogues from the movie and participate in the contest to win 20 lakh Chingari coins.

    The movie will air on 22 May at 1:00 pm on Filamchi channel and Chingari App.

  • BookMyShow Stream adds exclusive content to its movie library

    BookMyShow Stream adds exclusive content to its movie library

    Mumbai: With Indian audiences confined to their home due to the second wave of coronavirus outbreak, BookMyShow Stream is offering engaging content to the viewers. From drama to action thriller, BookMyShow Stream will be streaming movies like The Secrets We Keep, Daniel, and Redemption Day to the viewers starting 21 May. 

    Viewers can buy or rent these films and pay only for the content they like. 

    ·The Secrets We Keep: Directed by Yuval Adler, the movie stars Joel Kinnaman, Chris Messina, and Naomi Rapace in the lead roles. The drama-thriller revolves around the life of a woman who rebuilds her life in the suburbs with her husband. Later, she kidnaps her neighbour and starts seeking vengeance for heinous war crimes he committed against her during the time of World War II. 

    ·Daniel: Directed by Neils Arden Oplev, it is a drama that narrates the story of a young Danish photojournalist who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS). The film follows Daniel’s struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to cope with the fear that they may never see their son alive again. At the centre of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing.

    ·Redemption Day: An action thriller directed by Hicham Hajji it revolves around the life of a war hero whose life turns upside down when his girlfriend gets kidnapped. To seek vengeance, the war hero starts his deadly operation to hunt down the shadowy forces. 

  • US Network NBC drops broadcast of 2022 Golden Globes

    US Network NBC drops broadcast of 2022 Golden Globes

    New Delhi: US television network NBC has announced that it will drop its broadcast of the Golden Globes ceremony in 2022. The decision comes after the Hollywood backlash over the lack of diversity and the ethics of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), whose members vote on the annual awards for film and television.

    It is for the first time since 1996 that NBC has decided not to broadcast the awards.

    Actor Tom Cruise joined a revolt led by a host of streaming platforms and top studios, and urged others to join the call for action. The Mission Impossible star also returned the three awards he won for his roles in the movies Jerry Maguire, Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July to register his protest, Variety magazine reported on Tuesday.

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been facing severe allegations of corruption and impropriety, and lack of diversity. The members have also been accused of making sexist and racist remarks

    Streaming giants Netflix, Amazon Studios, WarnerMedia and several top PR companies have earlier said they would no longer work with the HFPA unless it made far-reaching changes.

    WarnerMedia, which includes cable channel HBO and movie studio Warner Brothers, had even written to HFPA expressing concerns over “racially insensitive, sexist and homophobic questions” at press conferences and events during the nominations and awards process.

    In wake of the criticism, the HFPA had agreed to make some changes over the next year, which were initially welcomed by NBC. But later, the network said it would wait to see if the reforms worked.

    “Change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organisation executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” NBC said in a statement, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

    Soon after the announcement, the HFPA said it is implementing “transformational change”  on priority and also reiterated that by August 2021, it would approve a new code of conduct and provide diversity and sexual harassment training among other steps.

    The annual Golden Globes ceremony has become one of the biggest Hollywood awards shows in the run-up to the Oscars. But it has been under close scrutiny following an investigation published in February by the Los Angeles Times that showed the group of 87 journalists had no Black members. The association has faced further criticism for this year’s slate of nominations, which did not include several Black-led Oscar contenders such as Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Judas and the Black Messiah in the nominees for the group’s top award.

  • Filmmakers’ hopes dashed again as second Covid wave runs rampant

    Filmmakers’ hopes dashed again as second Covid wave runs rampant

    KERALA: The Indian film industry was beginning to show signs of a feeble revival early this year. As restrictions eased and Covid cases declined, people began returning to the theatres to relive the cinematic experience. The relief, however, did not last long. Now, with the second wave of Covid2019 showing no signs of abating, the industry’s future is in jeopardy yet again.

    India has recorded a record 4.01 lakh new cases of Covid in the last 24 hours and lost over 4,194 people who were battling with its complications. The deteriorating situation has compelled filmmakers to reconsider the release of their projects. Some have taken the streaming route, but even that faced hurdles, as the situation continued to worsen, impacting viewership across all mediums.

    Filmmakers put brakes on new releases

    The makers of Farhan Akhtar-starred Toofan have postponed the release of the movie due to the surge in Covid cases. The film was slated to release on Amazon Prime Video on 21 May. In a statement shared on social media, Akhtar said the current focus is only on the pandemic.

    “The situation in India is truly heart-breaking… In light of the severity of the situation, our focus is completely on the pandemic and on supporting our employees, their families, and helping the wider community. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the release of our film Toofan until the situation improves,” he tweeted. 

     

     

    Makers of Telugu flick Khiladi, which stars Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja in the lead role, have also decided to defer its theatrical outing. The movie was initially scheduled to come to cinemas on 28 May; a new date of release is yet to be announced.

     

     

    Wait for theatrical releases gets longer

    According to the latest updates, Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham (which bagged the Best Feature Film honour at the 67th National Film Awards) is scheduled to hit the screens on 12 August 2021. The film was slated for a 23 March release but was postponed to 13 May due to the first phase of the Covid outbreak. As the marauding virus showed no signs of slowing down, the makers again pushed back the release to 12 August. With a third wave imminent, the August release could also get impacted. If the situation persists, producers may look for other options like direct OTT releases or hybrid releases as the content will get outdated. 

    “Even though it is too early to comment, current developments indicate that theatres in the country will not open in June or July, especially because vaccination is progressing slowly, and the number of fresh cases is rising phenomenally. Not just Maharashtra, most of the states are witnessing a sudden surge in cases,” said Elara Capital vice president and research analyst (media and consumer discretionary) Karan Taurani. 

    A potential third wave?

    As India struggles to combat the second wave, the government has issued warnings for a potential third wave that could hit the country later this year. According to principal scientific advisor to the PM Dr KV Vijay Raghavan, the third wave of Covid is inevitable. “The next outbreak could turn deadlier and it is not clear on what timescale this phase 3 will occur,” he added. “Hopefully, incrementally, but we should prepare for new waves. New variants will arise all over the world and in India too.”

    The dire warning comes at a time when the pandemic has already taken a toll on the Indian film industry. Following the Coronavirus outbreak, several production houses postponed the releases of their films, while some of them opted for OTT premieres. Although some Bollywood movies like Mumbai Saga and Roohi got a theatrical showing earlier this year, they failed to make an impact at the box office. 

    Will Radhe light the way ahead?

    Radhe is the first Indian movie that is set to get a hybrid release this May. The Salman Khan-starrer will hit theatres on 13 May and simultaneously premiere on Zee5 and Zee Plex as a pay-per-view. If the Covid situation persists in the country for long, several big-budget movies are likely to follow in Radhe’s footsteps. 

    “Considering the current trend, makers of big-budget movies like Sooryavanshi may not hold the movies for a long time. They may prefer an OTT release or hybrid release. The second wave might go quickly, we do not know,” opined Karan. 

    Given this uncertainty, most big-ticket, mass market films, both Bollywood and regional, have vanished from the upcoming release slate. Depending on how Radhe performs at the box office despite strict restrictions in several states and the success of the pay-per-view showing, which is yet to take off in India, hybrid release may be a ray of hope to industry stakeholders.

  • Covid second wave pushes multiplexes’ recovery to next fiscal: CRISIL

    Covid second wave pushes multiplexes’ recovery to next fiscal: CRISIL

    New Delhi: Multiplexes across the country are set to log operating losses for the second straight fiscal as localised lockdowns, night curfews and other restrictions to contain the resurgence of Covid2019 infections will keep occupancies low for the next few months, according to CRISIL ratings.

    The film exhibition sector was one of the worst impacted by the lockdown in 2020, being the first to lower their shutters in March, and among the last to resume operations, in October.

    Occupancy had started improving post-resumption, and was expected to reach 18-22 per cent – the breakeven level in terms of operating profit – in the current quarter. Sequentially, occupancy doubled to 12-13 per cent last quarter, and was seen climbing anew to 22-25 per cent in south India.

    However, the sudden spike in Covid2019 cases in April will send that estimate askew and defer recovery to the second half of this fiscal, said CRISIL in its latest report.

    “Our base case assumes average occupancy of 10-12 per cent in the first half of this fiscal and 20-22 per cent in the second half, when restrictions on occupancy and fears of infection will hopefully recede. A full recovery is seen only in fiscal 2023,” said CRISIL Ratings director Nitesh Jain. 

    Temporary closures in many states, especially Maharashtra, will push back new film releases, at least the big-ticket ones, to the second quarter, noted Jain. 

    “Maharashtra is a crucial market for cinema, accounting for a fifth of the total screens in India. The resurgence of pandemic has created many uncertainties, and restrictions could continue for longer, leading to deferment of film releases on big screens and continuation of cash burn for multiplexes,” he elaborated.

    In the milieu, CRISIL-rated multiplex operators, which account for almost half of the industry’s revenue, are expected to log cash losses this fiscal, too. They had bled roughly Rs 900 crore in fiscal 2021, compared with a cash profit of around Rs 785 crore in fiscal 2020.

    Last fiscal, multiplex operators undertook steep cost controls, including deferring maintenance and major capex outlays. They also raised Rs 1,350 crore equity to fund losses and augment liquidity. The current liquidity could comfortably cover operating expenses and debt servicing of these players for the next four to six months.

    But with the sudden turnaround in the state of affairs, cost cutting measures, including deferring maintenance and major capex outlays, are likely to continue even this fiscal. Their ability to keep a leash on fixed cost will, however, be a monitorable, opined CRISIL Ratings associate director Rakshit Kachhal. 

    “Lease rentals is the largest fixed cost and they could save 70-75 per cent (~Rs 800 crore) from waiver of rentals in the last fiscal. Their ability to renegotiate rentals for the current fiscal will be crucial to contain the losses. Besides cost controls, the ability to raise funds in a timely manner will bear watching,” he added.

    The spread of infections, the success of the vaccination drive, and the return of moviegoers will be monitorables, too, as will be the players’ ability to raise funds in a timely manner. But this is only when one sets aside people’s fear of closed spaces.

    According to CRISIL, since multiplexes are among the few out-of-home entertainment options in India, occupancy should bounce back once the fear of infection recedes and the pace of vaccination picks up.

    Besides, big-budget movies, which are temporarily being deferred, are unlikely to be released on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, given that multiplexes contribute more than 50 per cent of the total box office collection. Thus, exhibition of big-budget movies leading to recovery in occupancy should script the recovery for multiplexes, currently seen in second-half of this fiscal.

  • Salman Khan-starrer Radhe to debut on Zee5, Zee Plex along with theatres

    Salman Khan-starrer Radhe to debut on Zee5, Zee Plex along with theatres

    KOLKATA: As the Covid2019 pandemic once again slams the film exhibition industry with new restrictions, filmmakers and distributors have been in a quandary — whether to postpone movie releases or take the direct to OTT route. Now, taking a cue from foreign production houses like Warner Bros, Salman Khan-starrer Radhe will debut on Zee5 and Zee Plex on the same day as its theatrical release. 

    With this move, Zee Studios has become the first studio in India to adopt a multi-format release worldwide. 

    Zee Studios CBO Shariq Patel shared, “The ongoing pandemic forced us to innovate, and we are proud to be the first to embark upon this new distribution strategy. While we all love to catch the latest movies at the nearest theatres, we realised we’d be doing a disservice to Salman’s fans nationwide if we aren’t able to release theatrically in all Indian states.

    He went on to add that the studio sensed the need for a pay per view solution along with theatres, which gives the consumers flexibility and convenience of viewing the film. Zee Studios is looking to release the film in over 40 countries including theatrical release in major overseas markets. 

    “There cannot be a better film than Radhe to offer the audiences who’ve been waiting for an out and out entertainer for over a year now,” quipped Patel.

    The film will have a theatrical release and will be showcased in all Indian states where cinema halls are operational as per Covid protocols. The international theatrical release will target countries in the Middle East, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe. It will also be the first Bollywood film to release theatrically in the UK since the lockdown last year

    Salman Khan Films' spokesperson remarked, “We will support the theatre owners by releasing the film in as many theatres as we can, keeping in line with the rules and protocols laid down by the government. But, considering the guidelines and safety measures, we also need to devise ways to ensure that the film reaches all of our audience. We don't want to deny the audience the choice of entertainment in the comfort of their homes during these times."

    Along with Salman Khan, Radhe also stars Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles. The movie is presented by Salman Khan Films in association with Zee Studios, produced by Salma Khan, Sohail Khan and Reel Life Production. It is scheduled to release on 13 May 2021 on the occasion of Eid.

  • Second Covid wave chokes India; filmmakers eye OTT route for new releases

    Second Covid wave chokes India; filmmakers eye OTT route for new releases

    MUMBAI: After showing signs of flattening the curve, India is once again struggling to leash the deadly virus that has reared its ugly head in the last few weeks. On 13 April, the country recorded more than 1,61,736 Covid2019 positive cases and over 900 related deaths. As the pandemic rages on, several states including Maharashtra and Karnataka are considering a second lockdown. 

    Like all other sectors, the entertainment industry in India is also facing a setback due to the resurgent virus. Even though the government gave permission to open theatres in November 2020, the footfall in cinema halls was very low, and most screens in Maharashtra witnessed an attendance of just four to five per cent. 

    Covid brings entertainment industry to its knees

    Even though several Bollywood movies including Mumbai Saga hit the big screen, none of these films succeeded in creating an impact at the box-office. Industry experts believe that the only way to revive the exhibition industry is by waiving taxes imposed on cinema halls, and by allowing them to function without restrictions. 

    "If theatres in Maharashtra remain closed due to lockdown, it could affect Hindi movie releases in all other states as well,” pronounced Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India president Nitin Datar. “Theatres are making sure that all hygiene measures are adopted to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Even though the attendance in theatres is very low, the expenses incurred by theatres which include electricity bills, taxes (including entertainment and property) remains the same. In Maharashtra alone, theatres incurred loss of Rs 800 crore. We request government to waive the taxes which is very much necessary for the exhibition industry to survive.''

    Datar also added that the closure of theatres in Maharashtra could not only affect theatre owners, but will also impact the lives of thousands who are directly or indirectly dependent on cinemas. 

    "In a theatre, there will be 25 workers. There will be four or five people working in the parking area, and other people working in the canteen area. In the surrounding areas, around the theatres, it will be a market hub depending on people coming to theatres. All the small shops are also dependent on the public who come to see cinemas. Around 1000 or 2000 people used to visit the theatres every day, and these retail shops are running relying these theatre visitors," he pointed out. 

    Exhibitors are ready to cooperate with whatever call the government takes during the pandemic, said Dadar, but at the same time, they expect help to survive.

    Production houses may postpone releases

    If a possible lockdown happens in Maharashtra, release of several movies including Sooryavanshi and Salman Khan's Radhe may get postponed. With a power-packed star cast of Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, and Ranveer Singh, Sooryavanshi is scheduled to release on 30 April, but if theatres remain closed, makers may postpone the theatrical hit, and some day, may even opt for an OTT release. 

    Elara Capital vice president & research analyst (media & consumer discretionary) Karan Taurani hinted that theatres will return to pre-pandemic normalcy only by September 2021, which means several big budget movies may well take the direct to OTT route.

    "In January 2021, industry experts believed that theatres will return to pre-pandemic normalcy by May-June 2021. However, due to the second wave and a lockdown scare, things have turned upside down. I personally believe that the process of returning to normalcy will take some time, and I believe things will return to pre-pandemic atmosphere by September 2021. Makers of films like Sooryavanshi may consider OTT release, as the content is getting old," he said.

    Taurani also added that OTT releases are inevitable in the current scenario. While films like Sooryavanshi are not made to release on video streaming platforms, the current pandemic situation is compelling production houses to release their films online. 

    "If filmmakers have the option to release movies in theatres, they will obviously screen in big screens. And personally I believe that production houses will not opt for simultaneous releases in both OTT platforms and theatres on the same day, a practice which is widely followed in Hollywood," he stated. 14apr-Anx-mailer.html

  • Amid pandemic scare, ‘Godzilla vs Kong’ enjoys dream box-office run

    Amid pandemic scare, ‘Godzilla vs Kong’ enjoys dream box-office run

    NEW DELHI: Adam Wingard's Godzilla vs Kong was one of the most-anticipated films of the year, though with many big-budget movies getting pushed back due to the pandemic, stakeholders were jittery if the monster action flick would come to cinemas. However, the movie had its international theatrical release on 24 March 2021. Amid the Covid2019 scare, the film was warmly welcomed by audiences all across the globe, and viewers praised Legendary Pictures for expanding its 'Monsterverse' with another epic outing.

    Godzilla vs Kong creating a storm globally

    Even though the film had its international release on 24 March, Godzilla vs Kong hit cinemas in the US on 31 March. On the second weekend, the film topped the US domestic box office by collecting $13.4 million, thus bringing the monster mashup's stateside haul to $69.5 million, an impressive figure in the midst of a global pandemic. 

    On the first weekend, Godzilla vs Kong collected $32.2 million at the domestic box office. Industry experts consider this figure phenomenal as the film had a simultaneous OTT release on HBO Max. 

    According to a report published in Reuters, Godzilla vs Kong is now the top-grossing film of the pandemic era, bypassing Christopher Nolan’s science fiction action thriller Tenet, which grossed $58.4 million at the US box office. Ilya Naishuller's action thriller Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk is also enjoying a decent theatrical run, with $15.6 million in collections at the US box office after three weeks of release. 

    Godzilla vs Kong makes waves at Indian box-office

    Even though the country is battling a second Covid wave, Godzilla vs Kong is making bank at the Indian box-office as well. In the initial days of its release, most of the multiplexes in India that screened Godzilla vs Kong recorded an attendance of 30 to 35 per cent. Even though the exact collection figures of the monster movie in India are not available, industry experts reveal that the film is already a profitable venture for distributors. 

    Elara Capital vice president & research analyst (media & consumer discretionary) Karan Taurani noted that the success of Godzilla vs Kong hints at the fact that audiences will visit theatres to watch movies that demand a theatrical watch. 

    "OTT releases are the necessity of the current scenario. But at the same time, audiences are not hesitant to visit theatres to enjoy movies that demand a theatrical watch. Consider the example of Godzilla vs Kong. The film which offers a visual extravaganza is enjoying a spectacular run at the Indian box-office. If big movies like these continue hitting the theatres, it will surely revive the exhibition industry in India," said Taurani. 

  • ShortsTV & BookMyShow Stream bring home the Oscars magic

    ShortsTV & BookMyShow Stream bring home the Oscars magic

    MUMBAI: After the much-awaited announcement of Oscar 2021 nominations last month, film enthusiasts in India can now watch this year’s Academy Award contenders for short films from the comfort of their homes. ShortsTV has collaborated with BookMyShow Stream to present these films exclusively to Indian audiences. The partnership will bring this year’s most spectacular short films under the live action & animation category starting 16 April, 2021. 

    This year, for the first time, Indian audiences will get the chance to watch Oscar-nominated short films before the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, 25 April 2021. These films can be accessed on rent at Rs 149/- per category.

    To learn more about how to rent these 2021 Oscar-Nominated Short film compilations, please visit https://in.bookmyshow.com/explore/c/stream. Users will be able to pre-book these films on BookMyShow Stream, starting today.

    ShortsTV president – Asia Tarun Sawhney said, “Short films have surged in popularity in India over the last couple of years and what is better than bringing Oscar nominated Shorts straight to your living room courtesy our partner BookMyShow Stream. Film buffs this year would be able to stream the world's best short films directly on their screen without the hassle of traveling to a theatre.”

    BookMyShow COO – cinemas Ashish Saksena added, "BookMyShow Stream has successfully brought the magic of world cinema to the screens of Indian audiences with a thoughtfully curated content library from across the globe. Our partnership with ShortsTV is a step forward in enriching this content experience for users, as we get ready to showcase this year’s spectacular line-up of Oscar-nominated short films and share the excitement around one of the most-awaited award cinema ceremonies in the world with millions of movie fans in the country."

    Coinciding with the theatrical and virtual releases, ShortsTV has also launched The ShortsTV Podcast – Award Season and is releasing weekly episodes leading up to the awards ceremony. Guests include Academy members, industry insiders, this year’s nominees, previous winners and more. The podcast is currently available to stream on Spotify, Google Podcast and iTunes.

    Nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced on 15 March 2021. The complete list of this year’s nominated short films are as below:

    ANIMATED SHORT FILM NOMINEES

    GENIUS LOCI

    Director: Adrien Merigeau

    Synopsis: One night, Reine, a young loner, sees among the urban chaos a moving oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.

    Country of Origin: France

    TRT: 16 minutes

    Language: French

    IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU

    Director: Michael Govier, Will McCormack

    Synopsis: In the aftermath of tragedy, two grieving parents’ journey through an emotional void as they mourn the loss of a child.

    Country of Origin: USA

    TRT: 12 minutes

    Language: English

    OPERA

    Director: Erick Oh

    Synopsis: “Opera” is a massive 8K size animation installation project which portrays our society and history, which is filled with beauty and absurdity. Erick enables viewers to experience the range of in-depth emotions through this epic reflection of human life.

    Country of Origin: USA/South Korea

    TRT: 9 minutes

    Language: Non-Dialogue 

    YES-PEOPLE

    Director: Gísli Darri Halldórsson

    Synopsis: One morning, an eclectic mix of people face the everyday battle – such as work, school and dish-washing. As the day progresses, their relationships are tested and ultimately their capacity to cope.

    Country of Origin: Iceland

    TRT: 8 minutes

    Language: Icelandic

    LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM NOMINEES

    FEELING THROUGH

    Director: Doug Roland

    Synopsis: A late-night encounter on a New York City street leads to a profound connection between a teen in need and a Deaf-Blind man.

    Country of Origin: USA

    TRT: 19 minutes

    Language: English 

    THE LETTER ROOM

    Director: Elvira Lind

    Synopsis: “The Letter Room” is a dark prison comedy about the secret life of a correctional officer who gets transferred to a job in the letter room, where a new world suddenly opens to him ways to find solace and spirituality afterwards.

    Country of Origin: USA

    TRT: 33 minutes

    Language: English 

    THE PRESENT

    Director: Farah Nabulsi

    Synopsis: On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift. Between soldiers, segregated roads and checkpoints, how easy would it be to go shopping?

    Country of Origin: Palestine

    TRT: 25 minutes

    Language: Arabic/English  

    TWO DISTANT STRANGERS

    Director: Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe

    Synopsis: In "Two Distant Strangers,” cartoonist Carter James' repeated attempts to get home to his dog are thwarted by a recurring deadly encounter that forces him to relive the same awful day over and over again. Starring Joey Bada$$, Andrew Howard and Zaria Simone.

    Country of Origin: USA

    TRT: 29 minutes

    Language: English 

    WHITE EYE

    Director: Tomer Shushan

    Synopsis: A man finds his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to a stranger. While attempting to retrieve it, he struggles to remain human.

    Country of Origin: Israel

    TRT: 21 minutes

    Language: Hebrew