Norway-set drama 'Fjord’ wins Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival

• Europa Cinemas has launched the sixth edition of "Collaborate to Innovate," providing €947,000 in funding to support nine collaborative exhibition projects. • The initiative will benefit 51 member cinemas across Europe, focusing on innovative business models and operational improvements.

• The Norway-set drama *Fjord*, which explores the theme of political polarization, was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. • Director Cristian Mungiu made history by winning the prize, becoming only the 10th filmmaker to win the award twice.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won his second Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his English-language debut, *Fjord*. • The drama stars Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan as religious Romanian parents who face child abuse accusations after relocating to Norway.

• A BBC Panorama investigation revealed that two women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands during the filming of the Channel 4 reality show *Married at First Sight UK*. • The victims reported a systemic failure in the production's welfare team, claiming they felt let down and that their safety was compromised for the sake of entertainment.

• Police have discovered human remains during the search for Stewart McLean, a veteran actor known for his role in the Netflix series ‘Virgin River’. • McLean had worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade and had been reported missing prior to the discovery.

• Fatboy Slim headlined the first day of Radio 1's Big Weekend, which took place at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland. • The dance-focused event featured a high-energy closing set where the DJ performed his new track "Zone" alongside singer Poppy Baskcomb.

• The Italian law enforcement agency Guardia di Finanza has shut down Cinemagoal, a major piracy app that illegally rebroadcast content from platforms including Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify. • Authorities conducted more than 100 search and seizure operations across Italy to dismantle the network's infrastructure.

• Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) has launched the "Light Up the World" video series and campaign to commemorate its 20th anniversary. • The celebration features lighting displays across four major global cities: Suzhou, Xi’an, New York, and Liverpool, symbolizing the institution's international connectivity.

• China's short drama industry reached industrial scale by January 2026, producing 470 AI-generated titles daily and releasing 50,000 AI-native episodes on Douyin in March. • The boom relies on "reference imaging," where AI curators use composite prompts and social media photos of celebrities and bloggers to create character appearances.

• Stephen Colbert received a standing ovation during the finale of The Late Show on Thursday night. • The event was captured by photographer Scott Kowalchyk for CBS Entertainment.

• Zee Entertainment reported a decline in ad revenues for Q4 FY26, citing the ongoing conflict in West Asia and rising operational costs as primary drivers. • Despite the revenue hit, the company noted that losses for its streaming platform, ZEE5, are narrowing.