AGP Executive Report

Venice Spotlight: Israel’s IDF chief says it may pursue legal action over Venice Special Jury Prize winner NAZA, calling it “blood libels,” as the film’s creators face citizenship threats from Israeli officials after a 25-minute standing ovation. TIFF Buzz: Zack Snyder’s The Last Photograph gets savage early reactions at TIFF, with critics branding it an embarrassment and “worst” work. Franchise Watch: Courteney Cox says she’d love to direct Scream 8, while Netflix and Sega confirm new game-to-screen projects including Crazy Taxi plus Stranger Than Heaven and another Sonic series. Box Office/Next Up: India’s Hanuman Ansh (Rs 2 crore budget) crosses Rs 200 crore and Vishal Chaturvedi announces Rambola on Tulsidas; Nayanthara’s Mookuthi Amman 2 – Maha Sakthi lands for Diwali with a Nov 6 release date. Local & Global Indies: Filipino directors behind Forgotten Island push back on the idea Filipino stories are only for Filipinos, and Slovak Pop Up reveals its 2026 slate of five feature projects.

Venice Film Festival: Danish drama Woman Unknown won the Golden Lion, while Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love took the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize—another big night for auteur cinema. Gaza Documentary Fallout: Israel’s culture minister Miki Zohar vowed to revoke citizenship of NAZA directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after the film won Venice’s Special Jury Prize, calling it “vile” and “treason.” Box Office (India): Hanuman Ansh keeps defying expectations, adding Rs 22.50 cr on Day 38 and pushing toward Rs 300 cr worldwide; meanwhile Haiwaan slid after screen cuts, earning Rs 1.85 cr on Day 3. Streaming/Anime: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1 lands on Netflix in the US on Sept. 28 (India via a different platform). Hollywood/Franchises: Marvel set a historic 2027 Avengers run with Avengers: Doomsday this year and Secret Wars next year.

Venice Film Festival: May el-Toukhy’s Denmark-set drama “Woman Unknown” won the Golden Lion at Venice, with John Malkovich taking best actor for “Wild Horse Nine.” Maggie Gyllenhaal also pushed back on claims the jury’s win was a political statement. Oscars Push: The Philippines named “Filipiñana” as its official Best International Feature entry for the 99th Academy Awards, alongside documentary “58th” and live-action short “Agapito.” Box Office: Warner Bros.’ “Practical Magic 2” topped the weekend but underperformed, pulling $30M in North America and $46M globally—while “The Odyssey” keeps climbing as Universal’s biggest hit. Streaming/Franchises: Russell Crowe’s Marvel villain “Kraven the Hunter” lands on Disney+; “Friday the 13th” prequel series “Crystal Lake” drops a new trailer on Peacock. Production & Real-World Drama: Filming for “The Traitors” appeared on Scotland’s Divie Viaduct; a man who had sex on a Download Festival Ferris wheel was later identified from footage. Local Film Culture: Bishkek’s calendar highlights theater festivals and Kyrgyz cinema, while a historic Yorkshire mill used for “Peaky Blinders” and “Downton Abbey” suffered another major fire.

Venice Film Festival: May el-Toukhy’s Denmark-set drama “Woman Unknown” won the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, with John Malkovich taking the best actor prize via video for “Wild Horse Nine.” Venice Jury Prizes: Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love” grabbed the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, while Israeli co-directed “NAZA” earned the Special Jury Prize. Toronto Film Festival Buzz: Mahershala Ali’s long-awaited “Blade” finally arrived as “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” premiering at TIFF with a family-and-faith action premise. Box Office Watch: India’s weekend mix stayed clear: “Hanuman Ansh” surged toward Rs 200 crore, “Mirzapur: The Movie” kept climbing, while “Haiwaan” struggled to build momentum. Regional Cinema Spotlight: Kashmir’s AR Rahman urged filmmakers to spotlight peace and nature, and Jammu & Kashmir’s IFFJK 2026 recognized local talent across cinematography, emerging awards, and best film. Local Industry News: Fresno State’s Maya Cinemas closed at Campus Pointe, with Galaxy Theatres set to take over. Tech Backlash: Europe is pushing for action against “pervert smart glasses” after secretly filmed footage of girls and women surfaced online.

Venice Film Festival: Lav Diaz’s historical drama “Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors)” won the Brian Award, adding to the Philippines filmmaker’s Venice momentum. Gaza at Venice: Documentary “NAZA” drew a record 25-minute standing ovation and is now a Golden Lion contender, spotlighting Israeli whistleblowers’ accounts of AI-assisted targeting. Box Office: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has overtaken “Jurassic World” as Universal’s highest-grossing film ever at the global box office, hitting $1.684B. Hollywood/Franchises: Searchlight is moving ahead with “The Families Stone,” a sequel to “The Family Stone” set 20 years later. DC/Streaming: HBO’s “Harry Potter” reboot has Gary Oldman backing it as “more satisfying” than the films. Industry Loss: Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas has died at 77, known for “The Last Emperor” and major international collaborations. Local Film News: University of Winchester students won awards for a Jane Austen-inspired short, while Swansea’s city centre closed for filming by Two Brothers Pictures.

Venice Film Festival: “NAZA” sparked a record 25-minute ovation as the 83rd Venice Film Festival wrapped with jury awards and the Golden Lion still up for grabs. Human-rights cinema: In a standout Venice moment, Lav Diaz’s “Makikiraan Po” won the Brian Award, backed by values tied to freedom of conscience and democracy. Gaza on screen: Multiple Venice premieres kept Gaza in focus, including “NAZA,” plus Russell Crowe’s tears after his doc “What Love Builds.” Fast & Furious 11: Cody Walker says Paul Walker’s return as Brian O’Conner is up to Meadow Walker’s approval for any CGI, not him. India box office: Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s “Haiwaan” opened slowly with about ₹3 crore, while “Mirzapur The Movie” and “Hanuman Ansh” kept pulling crowds. Streaming/tech: Warner Bros. is pushing full catalog films onto its own YouTube channels with ads, signaling studios see free viewing as a real business. New releases: Nani’s “The Paradise” will skip a trailer and run 2h 49m, while “Supergirl” is finding new life on HBO Max after a tough theatrical run.

National Cinema Day (Philippines): The Film Development Council of the Philippines and CEAP will launch the first-ever National Cinema Day on Sat., Sept. 12, with participating cinemas selling P100 tickets for local and international releases. BTS Live-Viewing (Malaysia): TGV Cinemas and GSC Malaysia will screen BTS’ “Arirang” South America concerts live in cinemas—Buenos Aires on Oct. 25 and Sao Paulo on Oct. 31—via a global cinema broadcast. Brazil Festival Drama (Brasília): The 59th Brasília Brazilian Film Festival returns this Friday after a funding cancellation was reversed, with nearly 2,000 submissions and 70+ selections. Venice & Gaza Docs: Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s Guardian-produced NAZA, about AI-enabled Gaza killings, drew major acclaim at Venice, while other Venice entries revisit Latin America’s dictatorships. New Releases & Industry Buzz: Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi star in CIA rescue thriller The Fix; and Legion M expands its fan-funded film fund to $5M after Coyote vs. ACME’s strong start.

Oscars Watch: Australia has picked Filipino-Australian debut feature “First Light” (Ruby Ruiz as Sister Yolanda) as its 2027 Best International Feature entry—its first Tagalog-language submission. Streaming Fast Turnaround: Netflix has renewed Tyler Perry’s “Beauty in Black” for Season 4, with a reported 11-day shoot in Atlanta and Chicago in late October. Venice Film Festival Impact: Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s Gaza documentary “NAZA” drew a 25-minute standing ovation, using testimony from whistle-blowers about AI-assisted targeting. Box Office Momentum: “Mirzapur: The Movie” crossed Rs 200 crore worldwide in its first week, while “Hanuman Ansh” keeps holding strong in week 5, nearing Rs 200 crore as it expands internationally today. Legal/Industry: Paramount asked a federal judge to require a bond in the Warner Bros. merger fight, as lawsuits and the Writers Guild challenge delay closing. Theatrical Deals: The Philippines launches National Cinema Day on Sept. 12 with P100 tickets at participating cinemas.

Toronto International Film Festival: TIFF kicks off in Toronto with a star-heavy lineup and major premieres, including Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky,” Sian Heder’s “Being Heumann,” and a Gilles Villeneuve biopic. War & Ethics in Film: Venice premieres “NAZA,” an Israeli-made documentary built from secret interviews with military insiders alleging systemic civilian killing in Gaza, using AI-linked surveillance and remote bombing claims. Animation & Family Movies: Warner Bros. drops the main trailer for “The Cat in the Hat,” a Dr. Seuss animated feature hitting theaters Nov. 6. AI in Cinema: Venice also spotlights “Be Brave,” a Diesel founder documentary using AI-assisted video to test how mainstream audiences react to synthetic realism. Streaming & Franchise Buzz: “Mirzapur: The Movie” is expected to land on Prime Video in a tentative Oct. 16–30 window. Local Film Culture: Georgetown’s Super 8 festival returns with neighborhood-shot shorts and community awards. Industry Watch: South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone apologize as their Kendrick Lamar musical “Whitney Springs” is shelved again. New Releases: “Practical Magic 2” hits theaters this weekend, with local screenings and fall-movie hype building.

Venice Film Festival: Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s sprawling, controversy-heavy “DAU” returns to Soviet totalitarianism via physicist Lev Landau, using actors living inside a reconstructed research institute. Tech + Storytelling: Xbox has switched publishing for Hideo Kojima’s “Physint” from PlayStation to Xbox, with Kojima Productions expanding into film and TV. Box Office Watch: India’s “Mirzapur: The Movie” stays steady with Rs 12.30 cr net on Day 6, now about Rs 6.57 cr shy of Rs 200 cr worldwide; meanwhile “Hanuman Ansh” keeps surprising with Rs 153.13 cr net after a strong fifth-week run. Industry Buzz: John Mulaney is in talks to star as Maxwell Smart in Warner Bros’ “Get Smart” reboot. Local Cinema Spotlight: IFFJK in Kashmir is pushing for a return of shoots and theatre culture, with filmmakers and actors calling the valley a future hub. Rights + Recording: Nigeria’s NBA president backs citizens’ right to film police during lawful duties, arguing transparency should not be feared.

Streaming & Spielberg: “Disclosure Day” lands exclusively on Peacock starting Oct. 9, with Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor in the sci-fi thriller that grossed $241M worldwide. New Media Venture: Thunder Road Films and Lit Entertainment Group launch TR/AK to back original creator-driven stories and global film/TV projects. Color & Post Workflow: Avid and Filmlight bring Baselight grading tools into Media Composer for a smoother edit-to-color pipeline. Industry Access Fight: Hollywood’s influencer-driven publicity is squeezing out traditional movie critics as studios spend heavily to reach podcasters and creators. Festival Spotlight: ASEAN+3 Film Festival 2026 opens in Prague, bringing Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand plus China, Japan and Korea to Czech audiences. Regional Cinema Buzz: South Korea’s blockbuster “Hope” (Na Hong-jin) hits Malaysian cinemas tomorrow after a massive South Korea opening. Local Film Culture: Rose Ayling-Ellis is spotted filming ITV’s “Code of Silence” in Hertfordshire, continuing the series’ police-investigation storyline. Tech as Villain Trend: A new wave of films casts real tech CEOs as on-screen antagonists, reflecting rising distrust in Silicon Valley. Box Office/Franchise Heat: “Mirzapur: The Movie” continues its big-screen push, with cast talking fan love and why the story needed a cinematic canvas.

Zelda on Switch 2: Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 exclusive remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches Nov. 5, with a special Zelda Switch 2 edition and an official electric ocarina also announced. Indie awards buzz (Philippines): Cinemalaya films grabbed 29 nominations at the 49th Gawad Urian, led by Cinemartyrs with eight nods. Big-screen WWII drama: Ridley Scott’s Dog Stars gets a fresh critical look, while Pressure retells D-Day weather decisions starring Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott. Industry policy shake-up (US): Federal film and TV tax credits are still in play, with Adam Schiff saying negotiations are ongoing and California pushing back on a Warner Bros. merger-related bond. Global partnerships (Korea-France): South Korea and France will invest €500M each over five years to expand co-productions and distribution. Local cinema boost (India): Mirzapur: The Movie keeps strong box-office momentum, and Hanuman Ansh posts another growth day. Festivals & access: TikTok returns as TIFF’s platform partner, and J&K’s IFFJK draws students to screenings and AI/animation master classes. Filmmaking disruptions: Nepal floods postpone multiple releases, including Maya Bhanekai Yasto Hola to Nov. 6.

AI & Streaming Policy: France’s Macron and South Korea’s Lee co-chaired the Lumière Summit, urging global action to protect cinema as AI and streaming reshape the industry, with studio bosses and George Clooney among attendees. Venice Film Festival Spotlight: Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk documentary trailer drops ahead of Venice and Toronto, while Andrew Garfield’s “The Uprising” aims to “terrify” billionaires and Neon’s “Artificial” (Altman as Sam Altman) targets Christmas Day. Box Office Momentum: “Coyote vs. Acme” keeps roaring past $40M worldwide after Warner Bros. nearly shelved it, and summer U.S./Canada theatrical revenue hits a record $4.76B. Awards & Festivals: The 72nd National Film Awards move to Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), sparking Rahul Dholakia’s questions; meanwhile, the Gaza Cinema Academy launches at Venice to train and produce Palestinian films. New Releases/Updates: “Haiwaan” gets CBFC clearance for a Sept. 11 release, and Nintendo confirms “The Legend of Zelda” live-action movie title and an original story for April 30, 2027. Indie/Community: MANHATTAN SHORT returns to Kansas with Oscar-qualifying audience-voted shorts.

MCU Buzz: New Avengers: Doomsday promo art may hint at Time Variance Authority involvement, with fans spotting a TVA-like detail tied to Loki’s past. Animated Feature: Fann Wong and Christopher Lee reunite to voice a royal couple in Singapore-set Library Of Mystory. Box Office Heat: Spider-Man: Brand New Day keeps climbing, while Philippines’ Insidious: Out of the Further stays strong in week three. Streaming/Franchise News: The Inbetweeners 3 is confirmed for Netflix, with original cast returning and filming set to begin next Monday. Venice Spotlight: Ellen Burstyn wins the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement as Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Flesh Impact (commissioned by Genesis) explores Marilyn Monroe’s persona. Industry & Policy: California’s film tax credit is credited with bringing productions back; MultiChoice revamps DStv with standalone sports and movies packages. Regional Cinema: Jammu & Kashmir’s first IFFJK kicks off in Srinagar, aiming to revive local cinema ties. India Theatricals: Mirzapur The Movie crosses Rs 100 crore milestone; Toxic continues to lag while Hanuman Ansh holds steady. Tech Debate: Danny Boyle confirms AI use in his secretive Ink project, reigniting the creativity vs. authenticity fight.

National Film Awards Move to Gujarat: India’s 72nd National Film Awards will leave New Delhi for the first time, with the ceremony set for Sept 22 at Ekta Nagar, Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity, where President Droupadi Murmu is expected to present awards. Apple TV+ Series: Callum Turner’s new Apple TV+ show Neuromancer begins Jan 22, filmed around Farnborough International Studios and local sites like Aviator Hotel and Farnborough Airport. Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger Fight: California and other states sue to block the Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning of major market power and potential layoffs. Streaming & Pay-TV Shake-Up: MultiChoice revamps DStv with standalone sports and movies packages launching Sept 17. The Matrix 5 Uncertainty: Lilly Wachowski says she’s “kinda done” and implies Matrix 5 may need Wachowski blessing. Venice Buzz: Ellen Burstyn wins the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement; Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Look Back earns strong early response. Box Office + Music Row: Mirzapur: The Movie nears Rs 100 crore in India amid a controversy over alleged unauthorised use of rapper Rapperiya Baalam’s “Shoorveer.” Franchise News: Netflix starts production on a new The Inbetweeners film with the original cast returning. Global Film Industry: France and South Korea pledge €1B over five years to support film and media, with leaders warning about AI risks to creativity. Theme Park Expansion: Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi adds three Harry Potter lands (Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, Forbidden Forest) for completion in 2029.

Venice Film Festival: Susan Sarandon said her Palestine activism is costing her roles, claiming agencies are telling people not to hire her as she promotes “The Echo Chamber.” Box Office: “Mirzapur: The Movie” keeps climbing—Rs 93.75 crore net in India after a strong Day 3, with the franchise proving streaming fans will show up in theaters. Music Rights Clash: Rapperiya Baalam plans legal action against Excel Entertainment over alleged unauthorized use of his “Shoorveer” song in the Mirzapur film. International Film Festival Spotlight: Kashmir’s IFFJK kicks off with 135 films from 40+ countries, including a Dal Lake floating-screen cinema experience. Streaming/TV Buzz: Adult Swim’s “President Curtis” teases “Ghosts,” while HBO’s “Lanterns” leans into DC Easter eggs and Gotham ties. Industry/People: Cree filmmaker Georgina Lightning died at 63 after an incident at an Indigenous equestrian event. Hollywood/Marvel: Lilly Wachowski says she’s done with “Matrix” directing, even as Warner Bros. pushes ahead. Documentary: “Primetime” lands at Venice with Robert Pattinson in a satire about TV news ambition.