Cinema

• Serbian writer-director Miroslav Terzić's drama "3 Weeks After" won the Europa Cinemas Label award at the Karlovy Vary 2026 film festival. • The film focuses on the critical issue of peer violence, with the jury praising its message that adults must listen to young people and refuse to ignore their struggles. • This recognition highlights the film's social relevance and its potential for wider distribution across European art-house cinemas.

• Students and alumni of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata are increasingly gaining global recognition for their independent films. • These filmmakers are showcasing their work at prestigious international venues, including the Busan and Cannes film festivals. • The trend highlights a growing success in securing international grants, entering co-production markets, and establishing cross-continental collaborations.

• The South Indian film industry has faced a turbulent first half of 2026, marked by a series of high-profile legal battles and public controversies. • Key conflicts include a censorship row surrounding Vijay's film ‘Jana Nayagan,’ disputes involving ‘Drishyam 3,’ and a crisis within the South Indian Artists' Association (AMMA). • These events highlight systemic issues within the industry, ranging from copyright infringements and personality rights lawsuits to personal scandals and messy divorces.

• European cinemas generated nearly €6.9 billion in box-office revenue in 2025, demonstrating financial resilience despite an overall decline in admissions. • Local productions remained a critical driver for sustaining theater attendance across multiple European territories, according to a report by UNIC. • The industry continues to evolve through strategic events like the Sorrento Industry Days and the CinemaHora Forum in Moldova to support new filmmakers.

• Cinema admissions and box office revenues across Europe declined in 2025, with revenues dropping 1.2% to €6.9 billion according to a report by UNIC. • Despite the general downturn, several countries saw box office increases, including Germany, the UK, Poland, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. • The data highlights a fragmented recovery for the film industry, where specific regional markets are outperforming the broader European trend.

• The 2026 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan) is launching in South Korea to celebrate 30 years of Asian genre cinema. • The event features a diverse global program of horror, action, science fiction, and fantasy films, maintaining its status as Asia's largest celebration of these genres. • The festival will open with the local premiere of *Blades of the Guardians*, a blockbuster wuxia epic directed by Hong Kong cinema legend Yuen Woo-ping.

• The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) 2026 will take place from July 3 to 11, 2026, celebrating its 25th edition with a strong focus on Asian genre cinema. • The festival will feature new works by prominent Asian directors such as Yeon Sang-ho, Joko Anwar, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa, showcasing films like "Colony", "The Furious", and "Sleep No More". • NIFFF highlights films from various Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, and the Philippines, demonstrating its commitment to promoting international genre cinema.