Karlovy Vary Unveils Central Stage Films, Launches Book-to-Screen

• World Cup halftime performers, including Madonna and BTS, experienced a significant surge in song streams, with Justin Bieber seeing a 110% increase. • The nation's largest pop culture convention opens this week, featuring a highly anticipated Saturday panel as a primary attraction.

• The Hollywood Reporter has released a comprehensive awards season calendar detailing key dates for the 2025-2026 cycle. • The schedule covers major industry ceremonies, including the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, and Golden Globes.

• The European Commission has approved the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., though the deal remains on hold pending regulatory approval in the United States. • The EU's clearance is conditional, requiring Paramount to meet specific requirements to ensure fair competition within the European market.

• The Korean series 'The East Palace,' starring Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, and Cho Seung Woo, climbed to No. 2 on Netflix's Top 10 Non-English Shows worldwide within three days of its release. • Since its July 17 premiere, the show has accumulated 4.9 million views and secured the No. 1 spot on the Top 10 list in South Korea.

• Director Yeon Sang-ho is returning to the 'Parasyte' franchise to helm a new live-action series titled 'Parasyte: Tamiya'. • The upcoming production will feature actress Shioli Kutsuna and is scheduled for release on Netflix in 2027.

• Entertainment company CJ ENM has received 12 nominations across seven different categories at the ContentAsia Awards 2026. • Hosted by the ContentAsia media platform, these awards highlight premium content and creative talent from the Asia-Pacific region.

• The Bangkok Post has released a curated list of streaming recommendations for the week of July 22-28. • A primary highlight is a localized, unscripted version of a popular UK dining reality series featuring 20 Filipino celebrities.

• China’s Newborn Town is leveraging AI-generated short dramas to target and attract a global audience. • Advertising spending for these AI-driven productions has already reached parity with traditional live-action shows.

• Actor Naseeruddin Shah condemned the "zulm" (oppression) directed toward students during a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 22, 2026. • During his critique, Shah compared the actions and tactics of the Delhi Police to those of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• The U.S. Department of Justice seized more than 1,000 internet domains used for the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup Finals matches. • The operation took place across three separate actions, including the seizure of nearly 400 sites by the end of last month, to combat violations of U.S. copyright law.

• The Cairo Economic Court in Egypt sentenced a medical doctor and an engineer to two years in prison for their roles in operating an illegal streaming site. • The defendants were also fined for managing a clone of Streameast, a notorious "piracy brand" that provides free, unauthorized access to the Premier League, NFL, NBA, and MLB.

• Netflix has released a new slate of movies and shows for the week of July 20-26, featuring titles such as "Ransom Canyon" season 2 and "Wicked: For Good." • A highlighted production features a high-profile cast including Academy Award nominee Teyana Taylor, Andy Garcia, and several "Saturday Night Live" cast members.