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Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson Neil Diamond Movie
TV & Streaming

How Gotham Awards and AFI Fest Impact the Oscar Race

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Another day, another awards season week in the bag. In the last gasp of October, both the Gotham Award nominees unveiled as did the finish of Los Angeles’ AFI Fest. While the Gotham Awards are an early indicator of where some favorites lie, remember that these nominations (of which “One Battle After Another” reigned supreme after the formerly indie film ceremony eliminated its budget cap) are chosen by high-minded clusters of critics and film programmers. They are not reflective of Academy tastes, though a number of the films get a boost as voters elsewhere do a search on who’s in the running as they ready their ballots.

On this week’s episode of IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast, co-hosts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio take a look at who got a boost from the Gothams. The indie spirit of the nonprofit Gotham Film & Media Institute — with awards formally dating back to 1991 — was retained in Best Feature picks like “Lurker,” “East of Wall,” and “Familiar Touch.” A24’s “Sorry, Baby” and “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” also scored multiple nominations in this category and more, but they’re up against “Sinners,” “Hamnet,” and “One Battle After Another,” largely expected to be the top three vying for Best Picture at the Oscars. As of now, anyway. The race can change like the weather.

'Bugonia'

“Bugonia,” “Train Dreams,” and “The Testament of Ann Lee,” which Searchlight picked up some time after its Venice premiere, are also up for Best Feature. Anne finally caught up with “Ann Lee” at AFI Fest and is more an admirer than passionate fan; Ryan commends how Mona Fastvold finds a parallel in her own massive directing effort to the utopia built by the titular Shaker movement leader.

Elsewhere at AFI Fest, Craig Brewer’s “Song Sung Blue” made its world premiere to decent reviews. The true story stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman as a pair of down-on-their-luck performers who start up a Neil Diamond tribute band. It seems more like a Golden Globes play in the Musical/Comedy category than a movie bound for Oscar; it’s not releasing until Christmas, so potential audience enthusiasm could tip its favor.

All of that’s to say that these latest developments in the awards season race don’t mean a hell of a lot. Just yet.

Listen to this week’s episode below.

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Sick New World Fest Reborn In Vegas, Fort Worth
Music

Sick New World Fest Reborn In Vegas, Fort Worth

by jummy84
written by jummy84

After taking 2025 off due to issues related to its lineup, the hard rock festival extravaganza Sick New World will be back with two editions next year. The first will be held at the event’s customary home of Las Vegas Festival Grounds on April 25, while an inaugural Texas version is set for Oct. 24 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

System of a Down will top the bill in both cities. Other acts appearing at one or both stops are Deftones, Korn, Slayer (performing Reign in Blood), Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence, the Prodigy, Knocked Loose, AFI, Mastodon, Ministry, Power Trip, Failure, Filter, Melvins, Acid Bath, Danny Elfman, KMFDM, Coal Chamber and Clutch.

Since launching in 2023, Sick New World has hosted some of the only System of a Down performances in the past five years and has elevated both new and cult classic acts in the hard rock genre. “I had more fun there than I had on many, many other tours, and that’s why we’re doing it again,” frontman Serj Tankian told SPIN after the inaugural edition. “It was a blast. We rehearsed just enough to know our chops and then the rest, who the fuck knows? Let’s see what happens on stage.”

Click here for full lineups and ticket on-sale details.

Sick New World was set to return to Las Vegas this April with Metallica and Linkin Park, but the event was scrapped in December 2024 due to “unforeseen circumstances” that promoter Live Nation was “unable to overcome.” According to HITS Daily Double, the event ran into trouble in part due to its former booker, Jeffrey Shuman, overpaying for talent, with the two headliners allegedly pocketing $5 million each.

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Whitney Cummings Shrugs Off Saudi Comedy Fest Criticism as "Just Racism"
Music

Whitney Cummings Shrugs Off Saudi Comedy Fest Criticism as “Just Racism”

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Whitney Cummings has heard the criticisms for performing at the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival, which the comedian has dismissed as “just racism.”

Cummings spoke up on her Good for You podcast, where she responded to the ongoing disapproval being leveled at comedians like herself who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the fest.

“I guess I’m this weirdo. I don’t operate under, you know, the idea that every government and their people are the same,” she said. “Like, you think that the people of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi government all share [the same values]? So you also believe that the Chinese government and the Chinese people are exactly the same? It’s just racism. I think it took me a second, because when people are going like, ‘You’re doing something unethical,’ I’m like, ‘Oh, these must be ethical people, let me listen.’ And then you’re like, ‘Oh no, you’re just racist.’ But these are also, by the way, the same people that would go like, ‘Trump’s not my president! I am nothing like our government.’ But other countries are?”

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Cummings is the latest in a line of comedians who’ve defended their decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Aziz Ansari faced off against Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night talk show about it recently, saying that while it’s “a complicated issue,” he still wanted to perform, and that “there’s people over there that don’t agree with the stuff that the government’s doing, and to ascribe like the worst behavior of the government onto those people, that’s not fair.”

Bill Burr popped up on a live taping of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast to say that he believes the controversy isn’t genuine, and is being inflamed by bots.

While comedian Jessica Kirson has apologized for her appearance at the fest, Louis C.K. defended his decision to perform there, calling it “a good opportunity.”

Dave Chappelle used his set at the event to say that “it’s easier to talk here than it is in America.”

Marc Maron, Shane Gillis and Zach Woods have all spoken out against the comics who chose to participate in the comedy festival.

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ACL Fest Showcases 2010s Indie Favorites
Music

ACL Fest Showcases 2010s Indie Favorites

by jummy84
written by jummy84

If one thing was apparent after two weekends of the annual Austin City Limits festival, it’s that the never-ending cycle of nostalgia is shining a renewed spotlight on indie rock of the 2010s. With a lineup featuring darlings from that era such as Empire of the Sun, Cage the Elephant, Passion Pit, Phantogram, Dr. Dog, Rainbow Kitten Surprise and MARIN, ACL felt like stepping back in time with just enough of the right modern twists.

Fans chasing the throwback sound were faced with several scheduling dilemmas. On Friday, Empire of the Sun and Cage the Elephant took the stage at the same time across the massive Zilker Park from one another, with some spry attendees attempting to catch some of both. Cage’s set on the American Express stage was highlighted by fireballs and frontman Matt Shultz’s acrobatic stunts, while Empire of the Sun packed fans like sardines into the smaller Miller Light stage for a kaleidoscope of of EDM and trippy visuals.

Likewise, Passion Pit’s set at the Tito’s tent was often drowned out by T-Pain’s performance on the main stage, but songs such as “Sleepyhead” were still potent enough to jolt one back to the era of oversized shirts and Tumblr logins.

Passion Pit at the 2025 Austin City Limits fest (photo: Nathan Zucker).

One of the weekend’s top names, the Strokes, were at a time a blueprint for many 2010s-era acts, and even frontman Julian Casablancas commented on the seeming generational divide on display at ACL. “It sucks that they make you choose, not to get political,” he said after joking that the band was going to take a break to watch some of Sabrina Carpenter’s simultaneous headlining set. The group’s 17-song performance featured nine songs from their first two albums, including five from 2001’s landmark Is This It.

As for Carpenter, she delighted not only Texans but fans of a certain age by welcoming the Chicks for a cover of their chart-topping 1998 single “Wide Open Spaces” and a version of Carpenter’s own “Please Please Please.” Red hot U.K, singer Olivia Dean served as the nightly audience member who is comically “arrested” during the song “Juno.”

Acts such as Joey Valance, gaming- and meme-loving hip-hop duo Brae and queer indie pop star King Princess drew large crowds of young fans throughout the weekend, while MJ Lenderman bridged the gap between indie rock and more jam-leaning sounds, creating the perfect vibe for a midday festival set on a shaded side stage. Wet Leg balanced punk attitude with dream pop, while Magdalena Bay juxtaposed bedroom pop vocals with cheekily retro set design.

The vibe on the scene at the second weekend of the 2025 Austin City Limits festival (photo: Taryn Valentine).

Beyond dueling Sunday headliners the Killers (who busted out a rare cover of the Pet Shop Boys-popularized “You Were Always on My Mind”) and EDM star John Summit (who often spins cuts by 2010s artists such as Tame Impala, Kesha and the Temper Trap), Gregory Alan Isakov gave heartfelt thanks to the crowd for warching his first ACL set some 20-plus years into his career, Doechii impressed with her energy and stage presence and Gigi Perez cut threw the hot sun with her powerful singing at the Lady Bird stage.

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Fuerza Regida, Future to Headline JOP’s 2025 Don’t Fall in Love Fest
Music

Fuerza Regida, Future to Headline JOP’s 2025 Don’t Fall in Love Fest

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Only Fuerza Regida’s JOP could pull together the biggest stars in both hip-hop and música mexicana for one festival. On Tuesday, the Fuerza frontman unveiled the lineup for the second annual Don’t Fall in Love Fest — headlined by Fuerza Regida and Future — set for Nov. 22 in San Bernardino, California.

On the Mexican music front, heavyweights Banda MS and Los Tucanes de Tijuana will perform, along with newer stars Oscar Maydon, Netón Vega, Banda Machos, Clave Especial, Chuyin, and Victor Mendivil.

Repping the rap and hip-hop world will be Future, Chief Keef, Saweetie, Baby Bash, Snow Tha Product, and Peysoh.

Chicano stars Lil’ Rob and MC Magic, along with Mexican bands Mi Banda el Mexicano and Banda Machos, round out the lineup. J.I Bandz and Kingmostwanted will represent the local San Bernardino rap scene.

“Don’t Fall in Love Fest is back, and we’re coming back with full force,” said JOP in a press release. “Neton, Future, Chief Keef, Banda MS, música mexicana meets rap across two stages. No one has done anything like this before, and after last year’s success, we can’t wait for fans to come celebrate the music, the culture, and the energy with us.”

Festival passes are on sale now. General admission entry costs $263, GA+ entry starts at $393, and VIP tickets will cost fans $688 each.

This year, the fest — hosted by JOP’s Street Mob Records and Bobby Dee Presents — will expand to two full-production stages and a club dome with DJs and “state-of-the-art sound and lighting” late into the evening.

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A portion of the festival profits will support charitable initiatives, including immigration legal assistance for the Latin community, according to a press release.

Last year, JOP hosted the fest fo the first time, bringing along artists such as Lil Baby, Xavi, Luis R Conriquez, Los Ángeles Azules, and Kodak Black to San Bernardino.

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Aftershock 2025 Fest Shakes Sacramento with blink-182, Deftones, Korn, BMTH
Music

Aftershock 2025 Fest Shakes Sacramento with blink-182, Deftones, Korn, BMTH

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The 2025 Aftershock festival took place in Sacramento from Thursday, October 2nd, through Sunday, October 5th. Stretching four days and spread out on four stages, this year’s festival once again had something for everyone, as Danny Wimmer Presents continues to expand and diversify the lineup. Although the weather went from pouring rain to unseasonably warm in the blink of an eye, that didn’t stop festival-goers from enjoying every minute of the festival.

Day 1 was headlined by pop-punk stalwarts blink-182, who last topped the bill at Aftershock in 2019. They were the band that most people came to see, and they did not disappoint, playing a 90-minute, 22-song set, highlighted by a cover of Descendents’ “Hope.” Good Charlotte closed out the Shockwave stage right before blink-182, while other highlights from the day included High on Fire, Testament, and the recently reunited Acid Bath, who drew a huge audience over on the Coors Light stage.

Deftones headlined Day 2, playing a near two-hour set to their hometown, and had the grounds around the Aftershock stage jam-packed. Highlights included “Digital Bath,” “Hole in the Earth” and “Around the Fur,” but it was “Cherry Waves” that had the fans most pumped up. A Perfect Circle had the audience singing along to every word, while Lamb of God also drew a massive crowd, delivering the live debut of their new single “Sepsis.” Turnstile and Knocked Loose brought the hardcore to Aftershock, while Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson’s set was among the other highlights of the day.

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Day 3 was headlined by Korn, who were, as always, one of the most anticipated bands of the entire festival. They played an electrifying set for their fans, some of whom were waiting up against the barricade all day in the sweltering sun. Gojira were another highlight on the Aftershock stage, while other standouts included Scowl, Spy, Slaughter to Prevail, and Trash Talk.

The fourth and final day of Aftershock saw Machine Head, In This Moment, and Mudvayne play before big crowds in the beating sun, but it was festival closers Bring Me the Horizon who were the main attraction. The UK band played a near 90-minute set which saw them run through 15 songs, including anthems like “Shadow Moses” and “Throne.”

By the time it was all said and done, Aftershock once again showed why it’s become the West Coast’s biggest hard rock and metal festival. Every year. the organizers seem to pull off something even bigger and better than the previous year, and with the rumors already starting to circulate about next year, it looks like the 2026 edition is not to be missed.

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Clipse Returns Love To Philly With Pepsi Eats Fest Show And Donation
Music

Clipse Returns Love To Philly With Pepsi Eats Fest Show And Donation

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Philadelphia was in for a treat this weekend as the Pepsi Philly Eats Festival took over Eakins Oval on Saturday (Oct. 4), transforming “the City of Brotherly Love” into a vibrant celebration of food, culture, and music. Between the aroma of sizzling cuisine, the driving beat of live music, and the anticipation for some of Hip-Hop and R&B’s biggest names, the city’s energy was palpable.

The free event brought together Philly’s top local eateries, spirited Eagles fans, and electrifying performances that had the crowd on their feet.

Hot off their album rollout and a historic performance at the Vatican, Malice and Pusha T not only headlined the event but spoke exclusively with VIBE about what it meant to give back to the city that supported them early in their career. “It’s a great way to give back,” began Pusha. “It’s always good to have a home away from home and the local eateries make us feel like that.”

When asked to name their favorite Philly restaurant or eatery, Pusha shied away from the question, joking, “Now that wouldn’t be fair. If we told you that right now, we’d cause a war.”

(L-R) Malice and Pusha T of Clipse attend Pepsi Philly Eats Fest celebrating local restaurants on October 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Pepsi

Speaking more to their musical ties to the city, Malice added, “Philly has been here since our inception. Working with artists like Philly’s Most Wanted, Ab-Liva, even Gillie — from the very beginning Philly always showed us a lot of support. Cosmic Kev broke our record, so it’s always like a full-circle moment always coming back to Philly.”

Echoing those sentiments, Pusha reveled in how good it feels to “come back to where you were embraced first.” He also declared that it’s “fair to say that Philly embraced the Clipse first, artistically and musically,” while dubbing the city a “bit of a playground” for them whenever they visit.

After speaking with VIBE, the duo lit up the stage with their new songs “Chains & Whips,” “So Be It,” and “Ace Trumpets,” from album Let God Sort Em Out — before taking everyone back to the early 2000s with “Grindin’” and “What Happened to That Boy.”

Mid-set, Malice stopped the music to speak directly to the crowd full of day-one fans. “We do this for community, fellowship. We do this for Philly, for local restaurants not just here [at the event] but across the city,” he asserted.

Then came the night’s biggest moment when Clipse announced a surprise $150,000 donation on behalf of Pepsi, giving $10,000 each to 15 local Philly restaurants.

Recipients included: Café Carmela, Chickie’s & Pete’s, Curly’s Comfort Food, Jacobs Northwest, Oregon Steaks, Philip’s Steaks, Rocco’s Italian Sausage, The Flavor Spot, Three Monkeys Cafe, Mister P Pizza & Pasta, Royal Buffet, John’s Roast Pork, Steve’s Prince of Steaks, City View Pizza and Avenue Steaks.

The gracious donation was a moment that perfectly embodied the festival’s mission of giving back to the same city that’s been showing Clipse love since day one.

Ahead of Clipse hitting the stage, D.C. native Ari Lennox also gave the crowd her sultry vocals and soul-stirring energy, performing fan favorites such as her new single “Vacancy,” “Shea Butter Baby,” and more. And of course, a Philly event wouldn’t be right without Philly royalty, Freeway. The beloved MC took the stage to perform his hits, including “Eagles Bounce,” before surprising fans with fellow Philly native Neef Buck from Young Gunz.

Eagles legend Brian Westbrook, the team’s cheerleaders, drumline, and mascot Swoop also pulled up, turning the Oval into a pregame celebration before Sunday’s matchup.

It was the ultimate hometown link-up.

Freeway, Ari Lennox, Eagles Mascot, Brian Westbrook

Pepsi

But beyond the music and famous faces, the festival was a foodie’s dream. Nine local restaurants dished out over two dozen fan-favorite eats — everything from crabfries and sausage sandwiches to Caribbean comfort food — all perfectly paired with Pepsi. The brand even brought out its drink station, DRIPS, a handcrafted beverage pop-up offering nine layered drinks with delicious mix-ins.

Scott Finlow, PepsiCo’s Chief Marketing Officer for Away From Home, summed it up best in a press release: “Philadelphia’s food scene is one of the most exciting in the country, where decades-old staples sit side by side with bold new spots,” he stated. “After the success of Pepsi NOLA Eats Fest, we’re proud to continue using our Local Eats platform to spotlight beloved restaurants that give a city its flavor — this time celebrating Philadelphia’s rich culinary traditions and pairing these fan-favorite dishes with Pepsi.”

From the endless food options to the unforgettable live performances, Pepsi made sure local Philadelphians were well-fed and well-entertained.

crowd at Philly Eats Fest

Pepsi

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'He Was Poisoned By His Manager & Fest Organizer', Zubeen Garg's Bandmate Made Serious Allegations On Singer's Demise
Bollywood

‘He Was Poisoned By His Manager & Fest Organizer’, Zubeen Garg’s Bandmate Made Serious Allegations On Singer’s Demise

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The investigation into the sudden death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of four individuals, including his bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who has made serious allegations and manager Siddharth Sharma. According to Shekhar Jyoti, Siddharth Sharma and festival organizer Shyam Kanu allegedly poisoned Zubeen Garg and conspired to make his death appear like an accident.

Zubeen Garg

Zubeen Garg Was Poisoned Says Shekhar Jyoti

Let us tell you that Shekhar Jyoti Goswami claimed that Siddharth Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht, causing it to sway dangerously, and ignored Zubeen’s condition, saying it was acid reflux. He also alleged that Siddharth Sharma arranged for alcohol and women for Zubeen Garg before he fell ill. When Zubeen was struggling to breathe, Siddharth reportedly shouted “Jabo de, jabo de”. Now these allegations has further intensified the conspiracy theory against the singer by the manager and show organizer.

Zubeen Garg

Also Read: ‘What Is Half of 8 Crores’, Samay Raina Took A Dig At Dhanashree Verma With RJ Mahvash In Viral Video

The Assam Police have filed over 60 FIRs against 10 people in connection with the case. A second post-mortem examination was conducted, and the results are still awaited. The Singapore Police Force shared Zubeen Garg’s autopsy report with Indian authorities, confirming that the cause of death was drowning ¹ ².

Zubeen Garg

Zubeen Garg’s wife, Garima, had expressed suspicion about the singer’s entire team and everyone present at the scene. She suspected Siddharth Sharma’s involvement in the incident and questioned why her husband was not taken care of when he needed medical attention. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the case, and a team is ready to travel to Singapore to collect evidence. The investigation is ongoing, with the CID awaiting the viscera report from the Central Forensic Laboratory (CFL) in Delhi.

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Trent Reznor Cancels Composer-Focused Future Ruins Fest
Music

Trent Reznor Cancels Composer-Focused Future Ruins Fest

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ first Future Ruins festival, which was to take place Nov. 8 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and spotlight world-class film and TV composers, has been canceled.

In a note on the event’s web site, organizers said, “unfortunately Future Ruins will not move forward this year. The reality is, due to a number of logistical challenges and complications, we feel we cannot provide the experience that’s defined what this event was always intended to be. Rather than compromise, we’re choosing to re-think and re-evaluate. Meanwhile, we are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate all the interest and support. Refunds will be automatically issued and ticket holders will receive an email with more information.”

The stacked lineup was to have included Cristobal Tapia de Veer (Babygirl, Smile, The White Lotus), Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow (Ex Machina, Civil War), Danny Elfman (Batman, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas), Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin (Suspiria, Profondo Rosso/Deep Red, Dawn of the Dead), Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker, Chernobyl, A Haunting in Venice), a performance of Howard Shore’s score of David Cronenberg’s Crash, Isobel Waller-Bridge (Munich: The Edge of War, Emma., Black Mirror), John Carpenter (Halloween, They Live, The Thing), Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things, Lost in the Night), Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh (The Life Aquatic, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore), Questlove presenting the score works of Curtis Mayfield, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe (Candyman, Master, Telemarketers), Tamar-kali (Mudbound, Shirley, The Assistant), Terence Blanchard (BlacKkKlansman, Malcolm X, Inside Man) and Hauschka (All Quiet on the Western Front, Conclave, Lion).

“It’s about giving people who are, literally, the best in the world at taking audiences on an emotional ride via music the opportunity to tell new stories in an interesting live setting,” Reznor said when the fest was announced.

Having just announced a 2026 extension of their acclaimed Peel It Back tour, Nine Inch Nails just debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with their score for the upcoming movie Tron: Ares.

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Fest Rio Announces China Focus in 2026, Premieres CMG's 'Shenzhou 13'
TV & Streaming

Fest Rio Announces China Focus in 2026, Premieres CMG’s ‘Shenzhou 13’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Rio International Film Fest will feature China as its country focus in next year’s edition, as part of the 2026 China-Brazil Cultural Year, said Walkiria Barbosa, Rio Fest’s executive director and int’l marketing.

The governments of the two countries announced in Nov. 2024, during a visit of China’s president Xi Jinping to Brazil, that the  2026 China-Brazil Cultural Year will feature a broad programming element, currently in preparation.

“China is the largest film market in the world. Our intention is to have in the 2026 edition of Rio Fest the main Chinese film production companies, streamers and exhibitors for a big business meeting and screening of Chinese films,” Barbosa told Variety.

The China Media Group (CMG) made a presentation Oct. 3 in RioMarket, the business section of Rio Fest, with the presence of the company’s Latin America chief bureau Zhu Boying, as well as of China’s consul in Rio, Tian Min.

Following the presentation, CMG premiered the feature “Shenzhou 13,” the country’s first 8K film shot in space, which was theatrically released nationwide in China Sept. 5.

The film depicts the routine of astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu on the Shenzhou-13 mission, which was launched Oct. 16, 2021. The crew spent a total of 183 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest continuous spaceflight by Chinese astronauts.

The film reveals awe-inspiring cosmic vistas and glimpses of daily life in orbit, captured with 8K ultra-high-definition cameras. Most of the footage was filmed by astronauts, with Wang’s perspective guiding the story.

The main Brazil-China co-production now in course is produced by Rio-based LC Barreto and CCTV Animation, a subsidiary of CMG. They are developing a TV animation series and an animation feature, both with Panda HoHo, a well-known character starring in other CMG productions.

“Hoho & The Tropical Sound Clash” is a 3D animated series aimed at preschoolers. The series is due to have four seasons, each with 13 episodes running 10 minutes in length.

Series showrunner Joao Amorim told Variety the first season is expected to open in the second half of 2026 on free-to-air TV channels TV Cultura in Brazil and CCTV Animation in China. Zhang Fan is the series’ animation director.

In the series, Panda HoHo will form part of a trio of Brazilian animals, with a Golden Lion Tamarin, a symbol of Brazilian biodiversity, and Capy, an adventurous capybara. In each episode, the trio will embark on adventures across Brazil, discovering unique biomes, cultural traditions and important lessons about environmental preservation and the power of collaboration.

The second LC Barreto-CCTV project, “Amazonika – The Origin” is a 3D animated feature about the recreation of the Amazon Rainforest, presented as an ancient link between Asian and Brazil’s Indigenous cultures. Panda HoHo will help Zo, a young man who can communicate with nature, and Nika, a bold princess warrior, to restore harmony in a world on the edge of collapse.

“We are working with two Indigenous Brazilians as consultants for the projects. Benki Piyãko is of the Asháninka original people and Zezinho Yube is of the Huni Kuin people,” Amorim said.

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