Newly Appointed Finnish Film Affair Head Alisha Hasan on Her Plans to Disrupt and Grow Leading Nordic Industry Event

Ben Croll Opening up this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival, Audrey Diwan’s “Emmanuelle” marks an unexpected follow-up to her Golden Lion winner “Happening” – at least on paper, anyway. If anything, the filmmaker followed a similar line, using a literary adaptation to emphasize sensorial experience, in this case the evasive quest for physical pleasure. “The project was one of renewal,” Diwan tells Variety.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Sony-owned anime company Crunchyroll has acquired North American and select international theatrical rights for “Solo Leveling – ReAwakening.” The presentation represents a recap of the “Solo Leveling” anime series’ hit first season and a sneak peek of the first two episodes of the second season. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring “Solo Leveling -ReAwakening” to theaters in the U.S. and Canada on Dec.

Jamie Lang Catalan Carlos Marqués-Marcet’s best film win at Toronto’s Platform for “They Will Be Dust” points to a larger trend. Backed by generous government support, experienced producers and sales and distribution companies with impeccable track records domestically and abroad, there is a generation of Catalan filmmakers that is hitting its stride with some of the most exciting titles set to come out of Europe over the next year.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent SAN SEBASTIAN — Is this the San Sebastián Catalan Film Festival? Always boasting a sterling presence at San Sebastián, Catalonia has a massive 27 titles this year, counting five projects in doc forum Lau Haizetara and including four of the five Spanish movies in main Competition and 10 in Made in Spain. Following a break-down of major section titles: “Afternoons of Solitude,” (Andergraun Films, Ideale Audience, LaCima Producciones) Albert Serra’s not at all obvious follow-up to Cannes competition player “Pacifiction,” a portrait of star bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey at work.

Jamie Lang Catalan films have impressed at festivals and awards ceremonies around the world for years now as the region continues to punch far above its weight in the screen industries. As the fall festival season transitions into awards season, we wanted to take a look at the buzziest Catalan titles set to make their debut sometime next year. Carla Simon, among the most exciting young filmmakers working in Europe today, will return with her fourth feature, “Romeria,” which is shooting now.

Holly Jones Ahead of its European bow in San Sebastian as part of the fest’s New Directors Competition, Turkish writer-director Belkis Bayrak reveals the first look trailer for her riveting debut feature, “Gülizar,” shared exclusively with Variety. “It is, of course, an honor to be in competition at San Sebastian with my debut feature,” Bayrak relayed.

An actress famed for her role in Brookside's shocking incest storyline is barely recognisable nearly three decades after the plot caused a stir.

A newborn baby died after her 'exhausted' mum was sent home just hours after a long birth, an inquest has found. Baby Evelyn Grace March was just one day old when her mum fell asleep while trying to breastfeed her in her own bed.

Police investigating the rape of a teenage girl and sexual assault of a woman on a beach have released images of three men they want to speak to.

A criminal mastermind has admitted running a major operation from his prison cell to distribute Class A drugs in Scotland.

Reports have emerged that Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently on suicide watch as he awaits a trial over sex trafficking charges.

Celtic's adventure in the revamped Champions League is set to bank 7 Premiership clubs a major boost of £1.6m each - with rivals Rangers the only club NOT to significantly profit.

Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sacked from Greenock Morton FC after being accused of smuggling £600,000 worth of cannabis into the UK.

Strictly Come Dancing's Paul Merson has been dealt a significant blow just hours before the first live show. Last week, the celebrities made their debut on the dance floor with their professional partners.

On a glorious, autumnal day at Greenlaw, Stewartry under-16s ran out winners against local rivals Wigtownshire.

George Harrison‘s 1973 solo album ‘Living In The Material World’ is receiving a 50th anniversary boxset reissue – find out all the details below.The late Beatles guitarist’s fourth album as a solo musician is getting a massive reissue later this year in celebration of the record’s 50th anniversary. The anniversary reissue was announced yesterday (September 19), and is due for release on November 15 via Dark Horse Records/BMG.

K-pop girl group aespa have tapped Canadian musician Grimes for a remix of their hit single ‘Supernova’.On September 20, aespa and SM Entertainment unveiled their ‘Supernova / Armageddon’ remixes under the agency’s iScream project, through which DJs and producers around the world remix songs by its artists. Leading the project is a new remix of their hit track ‘Supernova’ by Grimes.In a string of posts on X earlier this week, Grimes shared that K-pop had gotten her into producing music again.

K-pop singer and rapper Lisa of BLACKPINK will be taking the stage at this year’s Victoria’s Secret show.On September 20, Victoria’s Secret announced BLACKPINK’s Lisa as the final act to join its upcoming 2024 show, as part of its first-ever all-women lineup. Set to take place on October 15 in New York, it will also mark the return of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show after a six-year hiatus.“The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is such an iconic night in fashion and I’m so excited to be part of its return with so many incredible and powerful women being part of the show! It’s going to be a great night,” said Lisa in a press statement, per Billboard.Earlier this week, Victoria’s Secret announced that the show will also feature performances by music icon Cher and South African singer Tyla.Last week, Lisa attended and performed at the 2024 MTV VMAs, where she took home the award for Best K-pop with her June single ‘Rockstar’.The BLACKPINK rapper has spent 2024 focusing on her solo career under her self-established label, LLOUD and its partnership with RCA Records.

Squid Game has been released – watch it below.Today (September 20), Netflix shared a new look at the highly anticipated South Korean dystopian survival thriller series during its Geeked event. The short teaser clip contains slight spoilers, so viewer’s discretion is advised.In the teaser, we see Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) – who won the game in season one – being visited at his home by The Frontman, the overseer of the titular Squid Game challenge.We then get quick glimpses of the challenge’s playing grounds, shots being fired and the piggy bank-shaped prize pot being filled with cash before it is finally revealed that Gi-hun is forced back into the game, once again as player 456.Watch the teaser trailer for Squid Game season 2 below.Season two’s release date of December 26 was announced last month, alongside the news that the show had been renewed for a third and final season.The new episodes will continue the story of Gi-hun, the winner at the end of season one, as the character becomes “determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport”.Gi-hun uses his winnings to “fund his search” as he realises “the path toward taking down the organisation proves to be deadlier than he imagined: to end the game, he needs to re-enter it”.The first season of Squid Game scored a four-star review, with Hidzir Junaini writing for NME: The show’s sharp social critiques, suspenseful competition and sympathetic characters remain largely enthralling throughout.

Prince Harry's school life was incredibly privileged from his earliest days, as he began his studies at Mrs Mynors Nursery School in Notting Hill, before going on to Wetherby Prep School and later going off to board at Ludgrove Prep School. He was just eight years old when he was sent to live away from home, so Harry was given a great deal of support by school staff - and even was treated to a unique ritual. As well as enjoying various activities and weekly treats, the younger boys at Harry’s boarding school had their hair personally washed by matrons - and he recalled the memory in his controversial 2023 memoir, Spare.

It’s Friday, and one star sign will have new opportunities on the horizon, while another will be faced with an irritable colleague. There are 12 zodiac signs - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces - and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From Aries through to Pisces, here's what today could bring for your horoscope - and what you can do to be prepared.

It's been 14 years since the world lost New Zealand star and OMC frontman, Pauly Fuemana, who was behind one of the biggest '90s hits, How Bizarre.The catchy tune topped the charts in six countries and spent a whopping 36 weeks on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40. However, despite his meteoric rise to fame, Pauly's life was marred by tragedy and hardship, leading up to his untimely death in 2010 at the tender age of 40. Born in one of New Zealand's most deprived areas, Pauly found himself entangled with gangs, law enforcement and minor criminal activities.

Christopher Vourlias A teenage girl’s search for belonging brings her under the spell of a far-right eco-fascist group in Sunniva Eir Tangvik Kveum’s timely debut feature “Nipster,” which the Norwegian filmmaker will be presenting during a showcase of upcoming Nordic projects at Helsinki’s Finnish Film Affair. Taking its name from a slang term for Nazi hipsters, “Nipster” follows Chris (Saga Stenman), a 15-year-old girl who feels powerless in the face of a world rapidly going up in flames.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In terms of stars — Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, Pamela Anderson — and auteur power — Pedro Almodóvar, Sean Baker, Costa Gavras, Edward Berger, Mike Leigh, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Joshua Oppenheimer, François Ozon, Lupita Nyong’o, Mohammad Rasoulof, Walter Salles, Maite Alberdi — this year’s San Sebastián Festival promises one of its biggest editions ever. Yet it’s the Spanish festival’s wealth of new talent and rising names in its industry competitions sets it apart. Here are 10 things to expect from the fest, which runs Sept.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent SAN SEBASTIAN — Beta Fiction Spain, the distributor of the opening and closing films at this year’s San Sebastian Festival, Audrey Diwan’s “Emmanuelle” and John Crowley’s “We Live in Time,” has tapped Arantxa Echevarría to direct its banner Spanish feature, “Dolores.” Echeverría has already helmed for Beta Fiction “La Infiltrada,” about a police infiltrator in Basque terrorist org ETA, which bows Oct. 11 starring Luis Tosar and Carolina Yuste.

Marta Balaga Finnish director Samppa Batal finds sadness in romance and romance in sadness in the Helsinki-set “Apple Thieves.” “I see it as a romantic dramedy,” he says. “I believe we should embrace sadness [in relationships] because it will come. The problems start when we refuse to admit it.

Radamel Falcao turned down offers from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City to sign for Manchester United in 2014.

Precious peatland decimated by a devastating wildfire six years ago could take 200 YEARS to regenerate fully, experts said today despite a survey indicating gradual signs of nature recovering.

Looking for a home to rent? New statistics show Trafford is the most expensive area of Greater Manchester in terms of renting cost, with Wigan the cheapest, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.

Many will understand how much of an impact the skin condition eczema can have on daily life.

In an independent kombucha brewery under a railway bridge in Manchester Piccadilly, the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade suggested he would be ringing in a new era for Greater Manchester’s dying market towns. But Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, also indicated there could be ‘difficult decisions’ ahead.

More than 300,000 cancer patients will face treatment delays over the next five years unless the Government drives up NHS performance, according to a new analysis. Cancer Research UK projects there will be 17.2 million urgent suspected cancer referrals in England over the next five years and, by 2029, there will be a fifth more than in the last year alone.

Riverdale star KJ Apa has been tapped to portray the late Bradley Nowell in an upcoming Sublime biopic – find out more below.The news was confirmed by a Deadline report, with Apa later reposting the article on his Instagram Story. The film has yet to receive a title, but is due to be directed by Justin Chon, who has in the past helmed films like Blue Bayou and several episodes of Pachinko.The film was first announced in 2022 with with the band’s two surviving members – bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh – involved as executive producers.

Jessi has launched her own label, UNNI.On September 20, Jessi revealed that she has signed a management contract with entertainment agency DOD Entertainment and established her independent label, called UNNI.The musician unveiled new profile photos on her Instagram page and tagged the new label’s account, writing in the caption: “Your UNNI is here @callmyunni

told People.Officials ruled the 54-year-old is shocked and his mental state is unclear, the outlet reported.Inmates are placed on suicide watch as a “supervisory precautions taken for suicidal inmates that require frequent observation,” according to the US Department of Justice National Institute of Correction.It was not revealed how long Combs has been or will remain under suicide watch, or if he is suicidal.News of Combs’ mental state comes days after federal agents arrested him at the Park Hyatt New York Monday night.He was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs is being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after being denied bail and house detention by Manhattan federal Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky.The notorious jail has long been plagued by tales of “barbaric” and “reprehensible” conditions for inmates — which have included sex abusers R.

Manchester United will be targeting a third straight win in all competitions when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday evening.