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International
BFI Boosts Filmmaker and Audience Funding
The BFI will raise National Lottery funding to £150m for 2026–29, with £61m dedicated to filmmaking and talent development (up 13%) and £33.5m for audience initiatives (up 21%).
Film Festival
Busan Film Festival Marks 30 Years With Renewal
Emerging from recent challenges, the Busan International Film Festival celebrates its 30th year with a new competition section, record-breaking lineups, and a reaffirmed role as Asia’s leading cinema showcase.
Streaming
Scholastic Launches Free Kids Streaming App
Scholastic, with 9 Story Media Group and Future Today, has introduced its first free, ad-supported streaming service, offering 400+ hours of classics like Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus, and Goosebumps across Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Awards
Panahi Calls for Oscar Rule Reform
Iranian director Jafar Panahi is urging the Academy to revise its international Oscar submission rules, saying current policies force independent filmmakers in non-democratic countries to seek unfair state approval.
Live Entertainment
FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster
The FTC and seven state attorneys general have filed suit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, accusing them of colluding with scalpers to bypass ticket limits, inflate resale prices, and “triple dip” on fees, allegedly costing fans billions.
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