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Doha-based producer Katara Studios has unveiled its latest project slate, including Sakhr, a biopic of the Kuwaiti entrepreneur Mohamed Al Sharekh who developed the first Arabic-language operating system for computers.

Al Sharekh died earlier this year and made history in the region for creating the first Arabic-language interface for computers in the 1980s, a time when most computers were designed exclusively for English speakers.

Katara Studios, which produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the Qatar World Cup, described the feature biopic as “an inspiring portrayal of a remarkable Arab figure…whose legacy continues to have an impact today.”

Also...

Doha, Qatar-based pan-Arab content studio Katara Studios is developing a film about technology trailblazer Mohammed Al-Sharekh that will put a spotlight on his pivotal role in pioneering Arabic computing in the 1980s and making technology more accessible for Arabic speakers. Katara Studios describes the biopic project, unveiled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as “an inspiring portrayal of a remarkable Arab figure, Mr. Mohamed Al Sharekh, the creator of Sakhr computers whose legacy continues to have an impact today.”

Sakhr is part of a four-picture slate that Katara is set to unveil at a showcase during the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in the second-largest Saudi city on Saturday afternoon. Described by the company as its “first-ever content roadshow,” the event is seen as underlining its mission of crafting “authentic and universally resonant stories.”

Hussein Fakhry, Katara’s chief commercial officer, tells THR that the script for the Sakhr movie is finished,...

Terror is just beneath the surface in Orca, coming to 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on January 21 via Kino Lorber.

Also known as Orca: The Killer Whale, the 1977 creature feature has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision/Hdr.

Inspired by the success of Jaws, Dino De Laurentiis produced the film with Michael Anderson (Logan’s Run) directing from a script by Luciano Vincenzoni & Sergio Donati (Raw Deal).

Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, Will Sampson, Bo Derek (in her film debut), Keenan Wynn, and Robert Carradine star.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative Dolby Vision/Hdr Presentation of the Film Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson (new) Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell,...

Stars: Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, Will Sampson, Bo Derek, Keenan Wynn, Robert Carradine, Scott Walker, Peter Hooten | Written by Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Donati | Directed by Michael Anderson

Orca: The Killer Whale, directed by Michael Anderson and released in 1977, is a unique and polarizing entry in the animal horror genre. Riding the wave of killer animal thrillers that followed the massive success of Jaws (1975), Orca seeks to differentiate itself by focusing on one of the ocean’s most intelligent creatures, the killer whale. Despite its potential, the film never quite rises to the heights it aspires to, blending melodrama with ecological themes in ways that often clash.

The story revolves around Captain Nolan (Richard Harris), a fisherman who becomes obsessed with capturing a killer whale for profit. When his attempt to trap a male orca results in the death of its pregnant mate and unborn calf, the whale seeks revenge in...

Studiocanal have released a fantastic new 4K restoration of Orca, The Killer Whale, as part of the Cult Classics Collection. Terror is just below the surface in this ferocious action adventure of mythical proportions from legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis, starring screen legends Richard Harris (Oscar-nominated for This Sporting Life) and Charlotte Rampling (Oscar nominated for 45 Years). As well as a collectable 4K Uhd SteelBook, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

From Academy Award nominated director Michael Anderson (Around The World In Eighty Days) and screenwriter Luciano Vincenzoni comes a gripping and terrifying tale of man versus beast. Described by Scream Magazine as ‘Jaws with heart’, Orca, The Killer Whale features a marvellous lead performance from Harris as a sea captain targeted by a vengeful killer whale, and also stars Will Sampson, famous for his performance as in Chief Bromden One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Bo Derek (“10”), and Robert Carradine...

There’s a popular idiom often attributed to Picasso about how good artists copy and great artists steal. Naturally, this isn’t referring to plagiarism, but rather the idea that it’s better for an artist to reproduce something directly from the source instead of simply regurgitating it as-is. The way I see it, this sentiment also applies to creative rip-offs, as I’ll take an unlicensed cash-grab over endless sequels any day of the week.

After all, this is how we got beloved franchises like Friday the 13th (the original film was an attempt at capitalizing on the success of Halloween) and even Star Wars (A New Hope was meant to be a cheap Flash Gordon knock-off). And in honor of all the rip-offs that continue to feed the ouroboros that is popular culture, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six spooky Mockbusters that are actually worth your time.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a pioneering game for the iconic series, being the first to feature the eponymous princess in a playable role, but it's still set to inherit many Zelda staples. Alongside its dungeons and Rupee-giving destructible pottery, the series has long been known to feature a variety of recurring characters. From humble merchants to the physical manifestation of deities, each Zelda game is packed with familiar faces, and even characters who bear a striking resemblance to others, even if they ultimately don't share a name.

There isn't really an in-universe explanation for why characters appear mostly unchanged in Hyrule's different eras. Direct sequels with familiar casts, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, aren't especially common, and there's never any justification for why Beedle, for instance, operates an airborne shop in Skyward Sword, then reappears almost identically, running a similar business...

Quick Links How To Create Or Respec A Paladin Multiclass Build Every Warlock Level & Feature For The Multiclass Every Paladin Level & Feature For The Multiclass How To Use A Paladin/Warlock Multiclass Build In BG3

Multiclassing as a Paladin can be tricky in Baldurs Gate 3, but a unique build uses the Warlock to imbue arcane power into those following the divine warrior's path. Paladins' mix of melee attacks and magic is usually hindered when you try to add another class. However, the Charisma-based close-range role from the Pact of the Blade Warlock offers surprising synergy to the Paladin's playstyle.

This mix is sometimes referred to as a Palalock or Waradin and is among the top damage-dealing builds once you reach the max Level of 12. It takes some time to come online, making it more viable after recruiting Minthara for the team. You might have more control over this build using...

Whenever you hear the name Stephen Spielberg, you often think of movies like Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. But one of his most well known films is the 1975 horror movie Jaws, based on the 1974 novel of the same name about a killer great white shark terrorizing the people of a coastal town and how a few brave heroes set out to hunt down and kill the beast.

The movie went on to become a massive success making $476.5 Million on a $9 Million budget. It became one of the most iconic films of the 1970s and it received sequels and inspired multiple imitators such as Piranha, Orca, and Tentacles. With the film’s 50th Anniversary just a year away, Universal will most likely be re-releasing the franchise onto multiple formats.

However, one of the recent re-releases for the series, specifically the third and fourth films, has caused some controversy for the studio.

Who else participated in the annual tradition of watching Jaws on the 4th of July? Every year, I hope that more merchandise will arrive, celebrating Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. Surprisingly, Lego is answering that call!

The Orca, its crew, and the killer great white shark nicknamed “Bruce” are coming soon in Lego form! Are you ready to chum the waters with red bricks?

Lego item #21350 will start shipping on August 6. Insiders can get access to the Jaws set as early as August 8. The brick version of Jaws will cost $149.99.

Bruce and the Orca are made of 1,497 pieces. Of course, Quint, Brody, and Hooper are the three minifigures included. Sadly, the semi-digested remains of Chrissie Watkins and Alex Kintner are not included.

The Orca is very scaled down. It consists of just the cabin with the dining table. That’s Ok with me, but don’t expect to fit all three...

StudioCanal have today announced a new 4K restoration of Orca, The Killer Whale – as part of the Cult Classics Collection – from legendary producer Dino Di Laurentiis, starring screen legends Richard Harris (Oscar-nominated for This Sporting Life) and Charlotte Rampling (Oscar-nominated for 45 Years). As well as a collectable 4K Uhd SteelBook, the film will be available on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

Initially on the hunt for a great white shark, the obsessive Captain Nolan (Richard Harris) accidentally kills a pregnant orca. Seeking vengeance, her mate begins to terrorise the nearby fishing village in a rampage of death and destruction. Realising that only he can bring an end to the carnage, Nolan sets out on a deadly quest to face his enemy from the deep…

From Academy Award-nominated director Michael Anderson (Around The World In Eighty Days) and screenwriter Luciano Vincenzoni comes a gripping and terrifying tale of man versus beast.

This year’s Cannes is set to be the most activist-heavy yet. As well as potential protests around #MeToo and the Israel-Hamas war — not to mention a potential workers strike – animal rights activists are also hoping to make a splash during the festival.

“Orca – Black & White Gold,” a documentary about the international trade of endangered orcas, is set to screen next week as part of the Marché du Film. The screening, which is being organized with the help of non-profit organization The Blue Water Institute on May 20, will be followed by a Q&a with the film’s director and producer Sarah Nörenberg and Muriel Arnal, president of French animal rights Ngo OneVoice.

Variety understands part of the reason for screening the film in Cannes is to highlight the plight of three captive orcas at the Marineland animal park in nearby Antibes, which is just a 40 minute drive from the Palais des Festivals.

Clockwise from bottom left: Halloween (Compass International Pictures); Hellbound: Hellraiser II (New World Pictures); Mandy (XYZ Films); Re-Animator (Empire Pictures); Chopping Mall (Concorde Pictures) (Screenshots: YouTube)Graphic: The A.V. Club

We’re halfway to Halloween, and even though October 31 is still six months away, there’s still one place...

Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent shared the gender of her second baby earlier today, April 9th, on Amazon Live. She admitted she already knew what she was having as she and her family had already done an intimate reveal. Now, she is sharing the video from that special moment. Keep reading to see the sweet video of Lala learning what baby number two would be.

Lala Kent Shares Intimate Video Of Gender Reveal

When Lala Kent announced she was pregnant in March 2024, fans had a lot of questions. Not everyone knew that she was doing this on her own. She underwent Iui rather than IVF so she just had to choose a donor. For her, she went on vibes and did not care so much about looks. Additionally, Lala noted that she had no problem getting pregnant with her first child, Ocean, now 3. Therefore, she was not worried about having problems this time around.

Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights excluding Australia and New Zealand and will launch sales at EFM next month on the romance Take My Hand starring Radha Mitchell and Adam Demos.

John Raftopoulos directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Dave Paterson about a widow who loses her job in London and returns to her native Australia where she reconnects with her childhood sweetheart. The cast includes Bart Edwards.

Blue Fox’s US distribution division has earmarked a release later this year on Take My Hand, which was produced by Blake Northfield of Bronte Pictures. Rialto distributes in Australia and New Zealand.

San Francisco, Aug 13 (Ians) Google seems to be working on an artificial intelligence (AI) writing and editing feature for Chromebooks.

The tech giant is actively working on a project that has at least five codenames associated with it, with the main three being “Orca”, “Mako” and “Manta”, reports 9To5Google.

When editing a body of text on ChromeOS, Orca will show up in the right-click menu.

If users choose Orca, a “bubble” with the Mako Ui will appear over the screen.

According to the code, Mako will have three main tasks.

First, it will have the ability to “request rewrites” of a certain text, presumably one that an AI has rewritten.

“Secondly, it can offer a list of ‘preset text queries’, which we assume, in the context of generative AI, to be example prompts for how to ask for a certain style,” the report said.

Lastly, Mako can “insert” the...

No study of film is complete without the inclusion of the shark. Cinema has long told stories of man’s eternal battle with monsters, real or otherwise. Yet over the decades, no animal has endured so thoroughly as that on-screen nemesis like the humble shark. There’s always time for a shark movie, including this summer with the release of Ben Wheatley’s Meg 2. Indeed, our very (mis)understanding of the creature is rooted in its movie history. Film has an incredible ability to reimagine the world around us, but its eternal insistence on turning the shark into a merciless killing machine for midnight movie scares has left a permanent, major scar. And it’s almost entirely thanks to one movie that not only changed Hollywood forever but left sharks with a serious case of bad PR.

Jaws has a lot to answer for.

Prior to the film that changed everything,...

The 35th edition of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week is officially underway, marking the return of the annual fan-favorite weeklong shark celebration. Shark Week began in 1988 as a fun means of educating audiences on the aquatic predator, counteracting the negative representations of sharks in popular culture that began with the seminal aquatic horror feature Jaws (now available to stream on Peacock).

Jaws didn’t just make people afraid to go into the water; its massive blockbuster success inspired an enduring wave of “sharksploitation” horror that’s become a summer mainstay. Naturally, in celebration of Shark Week, this week’s streaming picks bring the aquatic terror. Shudder’s new documentary Sharksploitation breaks down this subgenre further, packed with insights from filmmakers and scientists alike, for further viewing to complete your Shark Week watchlists.

Whether you’re in the mood for killer shark horror dripping with cheese or genuinely unsettling Jaws riffs,...

A wannabe "Jaws" rip-off theorized what would happen if a killer whale wreaked revenge on humanity -- "Orca" was a warning. Let's be honest: it's kind of a surprise that it's taken this long for killer whales to revolt against humans. We've poisoned their oceans, killed their young, and forced them into a life of showbiz in cramped theme park pools. Humans had a good run but it seems that orcas are the new mammals in charge.

Sailors working off the coast of Western Europe have reported a series of attacks by a group of orcas they said seemed to be "coordinated." This included striking and sinking a number of boats, although no human casualties have been reported. Some scientists said spikes in aggression may have been started by a female orca nicknamed White Gladis, who is believed to have suffered trauma after a collision with a sailboat.

While other...

Osees have announced their latest albbum, a synth-pop-inspired project entitled Intercepted Message, out August 18th via In the Red. They have also shared the album’s title track as a lead single. Listen to it below.

In a “bio” for the new album, Osees frontman John Dwyer explained that it’s a “pop record for tired times.” The single — along with its news-inspired music video — supports this theme, drawing on the fatigued energy of politics and society, and channeling it into a blistering blend of punk and electro beeping and booping. In the video, Dwyer serves as the anchor for a dystopian broadcast, and as the world burns down behind his talking head, the weight of the message sinks in. Watch the video below.

From Dwyer’s perspective, Osees’ new music is intended to create a commonplace of sorts. “Social media toilet scrapers unite!” he wrote for the poetic bio.

Emmy-winning cinematographer Bill Butler, who was Oscar nominated for shooting “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and was also the D.P. on Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” died Wednesday, according to the American Society of Cinematographers. He was 101.

Spielberg remembered Butler in a statement, saying, “On ‘Jaws,’ Bill Butler was the bedrock on that rickety, rocking boat called the Orca. He was the only calm in the middle of that storm, and as we went into a battle against nature and technology that wore both of us down, the audience eventually won the war. Bill’s outlook on life was pragmatic, philosophical and so very patient, and I owe him so much for his steadfast and creative contributions to the entire look of ‘Jaws.’”

In addition to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Butler served as d.p. on a number of other high-profile films of the 1970s, including Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation,...

Record Store Day has revealed the extensive list of limited edition vinyl, box sets, and other speciality releases that will be available as part of its 2023 edition taking place on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023.

This year promises exclusive wax from Taylor Swift, The 1975, Beach House, Pearl Jam, Brian Eno, Tori Amos, Nas, and even Peppa Pig.

You can find specifics on some of the most notable releases below, and find many more detailed at the Record Store Day website.

Taylor Swift will release the first vinyl edition of folklore: the long pond studio sessions.

The 1975 will release Live With The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra on vinyl for the first time. Available on double clear vinyl as well as cassette tape, the expanded set includes a version of “Chocolate” originally featured on the 2023 Music For Cars EP.

Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, who serve as this year’s Record Store Ambassadors, will release Sound Emporium EP,...

The word “legendary” gets tossed around pretty easily when discussing important actors, but there’s a huge difference between starring in a lot of important movies, and starring in a lot of movies while leaving everyone you ever met with an epic, semi-fantastical tale about how incredibly drunk you got.

Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, Adrian Sibley’s documentary “The Ghost of Richard Harris” tells the story of — you guessed it — Richard Harris, but also his ghost. The Irish actor, musician and poet who starred in films like “This Sporting Life,” “The Field,” “Gladiator” and two “Harry Potter” entries led an extraordinary existence that’s well worth recording for posterity. And in his wake, he left behind three sons who barely knew their real father, and who seek in his absence a little bit of understanding and maybe some closure.

“The Ghost of Richard Harris” follows actors Jared Harris...

Global film sales agency and U.S. domestic distributor Blue Fox Entertainment has announced that production has wrapped on family comedy “Popular Theory,” starring Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Marc Evan Jackson (“The Good Place”), Sophia Reid-Gantzert (“The Baby-Sitters Club”), Lincoln Lambert (“Nope”), and Chloe East (“The Fabelmans”).

Century City-based Blue Fox Entertainment is handling worldwide sales and will release the film theatrically in the U.S. in 2023, the company said in a statement.

“Popular Theory” is a coming-of-age comedy that plumbs the complexities of companionship and ambition.

In the film, Erwin (Reid-Gantzert) is a 12-year-old girl genius completely out of sorts as the youngest student in high school. She’s faced with only one problem she can’t solve: Social isolation. With fellow outcast and chemistry guru Winston (Lambert), the duo team up to invent a chemical that will change the high school hierarchy forever.

“Popular Theory” is directed...

Taraneh Alidoosti’s drama centres on a domestic violence survivor who bids to become an endurance swim record-holder.

LA-based Blue Fox Entertainment has added Sahar Mosayebi’s real-life Iranian swimmer drama Orca and to its growing Cannes sales.

The Iranian drama follows a woman who survives a horrific attack by her estranged husband and finds solace as an endurance swimmer, eventually overcoming political and religious hurdles in a bid to swim further than anyone has done before with her hands bound. Taraneh Alidoosti, whose credits include The Salesman, stars with Mahtab Keramati star.

Tala Motazedi wrote the Orca screenplay and Tahoora Abolghassemi,...

The Notebook Primer introduces readers to some of the most important figures, films, genres, and movements in film history.The Last Winter (2006).What I am suggesting is that the imagery of disaster…is above all the emblem of an inadequate response. I do not mean to bear down on the films for this. They themselves are only a sampling, stripped of sophistication, of the inadequacy of most people's response to the unassimilable terrors that infect their consciousness.—Susan Sontag, The Imagination of DisasterOn 15 March 2022, an eastern Antarctic ice shelf the size of New York City collapsed into the ocean. Climate change is accelerating faster than anticipated, and the window in which to correct centuries of carbon dumping before setting off a sixth mass extinction event is minuscule, if not already slammed shut. Humanity has had decades to take action, but like a deer frozen in the headlights of an oncoming SUV,...

The ninth edition of Doha Film Institute’s youth and family-focused festival ran November 7-13.

Egyptian director Ali El Arabi’s coming-of-age documentary Captains Of Zaatari has won the top prize at the ninth edition of Doha Film Institute’s Ayjal Film Festival which took place in Qatar from November 7-13.

Captains Of Zaatari won the best feature film award in the Hilal category, chosen by a jury aged 13 to 17 years. It follows two young Syrian refugees living in a camp in Jordan as they pursue their dreams to become professional soccer players.

In a surprise announcement, it was revealed the film’s young subjects,...

July is the month that North America goes back to the movies in earnest. There have already been some theatrical release of note this summer, but as everyone knows the blockbuster movie season doesn’t get started until a Marvel movie premieres. Thankfully, with its list of new releases for July 2021, Disney+ is offering up some options for those who prefer to stay home.

In addition to arriving in theaters on July 9, Black Widow will premiere on Disney+ as well. Disney+ subscribers can purchase the first Marvel movie released since 2019 for $29.99. Judging by the early buzz, that “Premier Access” price may be worth it. Disney+ is keeping the original summer movie parade going in July with The Rock’s latest action film, Jungle Cruise, premiering on July 30.

Read more Movies Summer Movie Preview: From Black Widow to The Suicide Squad and Beyond By Rosie Fletcher and 3 others Movies How Black Widow...

“There is a creature alive today which has survived millions of years of evolution…without change, without passion, without logic. It lives to kill. A mindless eating machine, it will attack and devour anything. Try to imagine meeting the Devil…with Jaws.” – Jaws trailer

Ron and Valerie Taylor are the only names that come to mind when you think of the real shark footage in Steven Spielberg’s Summer Blockbuster Jaws. The film was released on an unsuspecting public June 1975 and the horrifying images of the film instilled fear into beachgoers that summer along with the phrase “See it before you go swimming.” The Taylors were synonymous with real shark footage and worked on other ocean themed movies such as Orca, Jaws 2, and The Blue Lagoon.

Valerie’s late husband Ron’s cinematography and exquisite compositions have certainly stood the test of time. From the birth of scuba with...

Though filming recently wrapped on Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel fans won’t get to see the long-awaited fourth installment in the Thor film series until 2022. Thankfully Thor actor Chris Hemsworth has decided to keep busy with other things in the meantime.

July 5 marks the beginning of National Geographic’s SharkFest, an annual televised celebration of nature’s most perfect aquatic killing machines. The event will span for six weeks, contain over 80 hours of content across four networks, and it’s all getting started with a new special from the God of Thunder, himself.

Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth will air at 9 p.m. Et, July 5 on National Geographic. The one-hour special will follow the Australian movie star as he seeks to understand how mankind can live more harmoniously with sharks. The documentary comes from Nutopia (One Strange Rock) and features shark conversationalist icon Valerie Taylor, who will guide Hemsworth on a shark diving experience.

System of a Down’s Serj Tankian has released the new music video for “Rumi,” a track of his recent solo EP Elasticity.

The song is a tribute to Tankian’s six-year-old son and the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi, for whom Tankian named his son. Tankian doesn’t often share the lyrics to his songs, but he did so for “Rumi,” saying in a statement, “Lyrical specificity in music is generally discouraged because less people internalize them as they have less of a personal connection. But there are cases...

This week’s episode of “The Masked Singer” took a break from the competition in order to celebrate the best moments of the season in the form of a sing-a-long special. Nick Cannon hosted the first-ever “Masky Awards,” with highlights shown of the remaining six contestants and the four panelists. Fans followed along with the bouncing ball throughout the evening in classic sing-a-long fashion. So how’d it all play out on Wednesday night?

See ‘The Masked Singer’ reveals for all seasons: Celebrities and costumes through the years

Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Masked Singer” Season 5 recap of “The Sing-a-Long: The Masky Awards” to find out what happened Wednesday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite costumed characters on Fox’s reality TV show and who you think has what it takes to win the entire competition.

Who do I have to talk to in order to have The Masked Singer judge Nicole Scherzinger sing in every episode?

The Pussycat Doll croons a few bars of “That’s What Friends Are For” to commemorate Nick Cannon’s return in this week’s installment, and it’s glorious. (Ken Jeong’s part of the song? Less so.) And the performances weren’t too shabby, either! Let’s recap them, cool?

More from TVLineThe Resident's Spring Premiere Forces Mina to Make a Shocking DecisionThe Resident Video: Conrad's New Patient Has a Surprising Link to Dr. BellMasked Singer: New Clues About Crab,...

As much as we mocked The Masked Singer‘s (over)use of the phrase “game changing,” we’ve got to hand it to the reality series: The wild card contestants really are shaking things up — in a fun way — in Season 5.

Exhibit A: Crab’s entrance in Wednesday’s episode, much like Orca’s the week before, injected a lot of energy into an already strong hour and leveled up the competition for the current contestants. Crab was added to the mix that included Black Swan, Piglet, Chameleon and Grandpa Monster, and by the end of the episode, Grandpa Monster was asked to go home.

Qatari institution continues support for filmmakers in the Arab world.

Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s upcoming TV drama Mornings In Jenin is among 39 projects to have secured Doha Film Institute (Dfi) funding as part of its autumn 2020 grants round.

The drama, which is in development, marks Jacir’s first foray into TV drama after numerous shorts and three features, Wajib, When I Saw You and Salt Of The Sea.

Based on the eponymous, best-selling novel by Palestinian-American writer and journalist Susan Abulhawa, it is an intergenerational tale, spanning five countries and the intertwining lives of three siblings.

In keeping with the Dfi’s mission,...

Qatari institution continues support for filmmakers in the Arab world.

Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s upcoming TV drama Mornings In Jenin is among 39 projects to have secured Doha Film Institute (Dfi) funding as part of its autumn 2020 grants round.

The drama, which is in development, marks Jacir’s first foray into TV drama after numerous shorts and three features, Wajib, When I Saw You and Salt Of The Sea.

Based on the eponymous, best-selling novel by Palestinian-American writer and journalist Susan Abulhawa, it is an intergenerational tale, spanning five countries and the intertwining lives of three siblings.

In keeping with the Dfi’s mission,...

Nent Group, the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, has ordered “Furia,” an original drama series created by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen (“Mammon”) exploring the underworld of right-wing extremism in Europe.

A co-production between Norway’s Monster Scripted and Germany’s X Filme Creative Pool Series and Zdf, “Furia” will premiere exclusively across the Nordics on Nent Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2021.

Repped by Keshet International, the eight-part show is directed by Magnus Martens and Lars Kraume (“The People vs. Fritz Bauer”).

“Furia” stars Ine Marie Willmann (“Exit”), as Ragna, a fiercely courageous cop who infiltrates a nationalistic subculture following a shocking killing in an idyllic Norwegian town. Working with Asgeir, a police investigator, Ragna’s journey pulls her into a spiral of hatred while a terrorist plot targeting the heart of Europe is revealed.

“It’s uncommon to see a female lead character who appears to be driven by such extreme rage as Ragna,...

June’s final batch of home media releases is a pretty meager bunch, as we only have four different titles on the docket for this week. Scream Factory is unleashing Orca: The Killer Whale! on Blu-ray this Tuesday, we also have a pair of titles headed home from Wild Eye Releasing—The Whispering Man and Sadistic Eroticism—and Redcon-1 is being released on both Blu-ray and DVD.

Orca: The Killer Whale!

Man and killer whale clash in a fight to the death! Sleek, intelligent, beautiful ... and hell-bent on revenge. Producer Dino De Laurentiis and director Michael Anderson join forces to present the rousing action-adventure tale of Orca: The Killer Whale. It's the story of one powerful being against another: a strong, determined fisherman versus an equally determined killer whale. When the giant whale's pregnant mate is maimed and killed by Harris, the whale seeks vengeance: smashing boats, attacking a seacoast village,...

The new production is set during an outbreak that threatens humanity, and sees a pastor and a doctor stuck in a hotel. Another pandemic film is in the making in Sweden, following the earlier announcement of Josephine Bornebusch’s social-distancing drama Orca (see the news). This month, Baker and Alexander Karim started filming Me/We, penned by popular Swedish novelist Camilla Läckberg. Baker is best known as a director and debuted in 2001 with the drama Four Women, whilst Alexander has starred in a number of popular Swedish films, TV series and music videos over the last 20 years. Me/We follows a pastor (played by Alexander Karim) and a doctor (Dilan Gwyn). During a pandemic that threatens humanity, the two are stuck in a hotel, somewhere in Europe. The project has been described as “a film about humanity. About love. And a threat that unites.” Gwyn, a rising talent in her own.

The timely Nordic production will tackle the emotional impact of the ongoing lockdown and is set to premiere exclusively on Viaplay. Josephine Bornebusch will be providing a commentary on these difficult times in a new experimental drama entitled Orca, which is currently in production. Bornebusch, who is best known for her acting career and her directorial work on television productions such as Love Me (2019-2020) and The Sunny Side (2019), is also the writer of her new endeavour. Here, the Swedish filmmaker will dramatise some of the emotional impacts of the current outbreak and will ask what togetherness can mean when we are apart. Throughout the film, the characters will communicate with each other primarily from behind a screen. The cast are filming their scenes one at a time and in the presence of a skeleton crew. The ensemble of actors includes Johan Rheborg, Gustav Lindh, Alba August, Peter Andersson...

Scream Factory is looking to make this upcoming summer one to remember for horror fans with their announcement of six new Blu-ray releases coming out this June.

Announced on their Facebook page, Scream Factory's June Blu-ray releases include The Hills Run Red, Orca, Universal Horror Collection Volume 5, and Collector's Editions for Tales From the Darkside: The Movie and Thirteen Ghosts (2001).

Full special features will be revealed at later dates, but in the meantime you can check out the announcement posts and cover art below!

Tales From the Darkside: The Movie Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Michael McDowell, George Romero, Stephen King and Arthur Conan Doyle present a terrifying anthology of fear with 1990’s Tales From The Darkside: The Movie—which is coming to Blu-ray this Summer! Details we have currently are as follows:

• National street date for North America (Region A) is 6/30/2020

• This is being presented as a Collector’s Edition release...

Rob Leane Feb 26, 2020

This canceled Star Wars game, codenamed Viking, would’ve launched on the new consoles.

EA has canceled another Star Wars game, we learned this week, with a proposed spinoff of the Star Wars: Battlefront franchise apparently being binned last year. We're finding out about it now thanks to a detailed report from Kotaku, who spoke to six different people in the know in order to bring this news to light.

You may already know some details of EA's somewhat tumultuous time with the Star Wars license: although the team at EA have managed to publish two Star Wars: Battlefront games and one single-player title, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, they've also canceled a game codenamed Project Ragtag, a heist-based title that Uncharted's Amy Hennig worked on until 2017, and a game codenamed Orca, an open-world experience that EA Vancouver worked on until 2018. And now, we've learned that...

So you thought compact discs were a dead format? Not to soundtrack collectors. Film music labels continue to thrive, turning from current scores to, increasingly, limited-edition expansions and even new recordings of classic scores from the past.

Many film studios have (as they did in the 1950s and ’60s) formed their own in-house music labels and frequently release digital-only albums of their movie and TV soundtracks. So the traditional soundtrack labels are focusing more on older, classic material, often expanding the old 30-to-40 minute albums to CD length of 75 minutes or more. They’re also tracking down and licensing previously unreleased soundtracks of interest to collectors.

It’s a business model that seems to be working for more than a dozen labels in the U.S. and Europe that are devoted to releasing music from movies and TV. Here then, alphabetically, are our choices for the best classic film music...

Man versus Beast in horror is really about man versus himself; Martin Brody in Jaws is terrified of the water, and must overcome that fear to take down the deadly predator. Man versus Beast was also a big sub-genre in horror during the ‘70s, often times branching out with an ecological message or two. And then there’s Orca (1977), an ostensible Jaws cash-in that sacrifices suspense for weirdness, with a goofy earnestness that’s impossible not to like.

It also came with its own subtitle, The Killer Whale, lest you were unclear about Dino De Laurentis (King Kong ‘76)’s intentions; make no mistake, this film was sold as a terrifying thriller in every trailer and print ad. Released near the end of July by Paramount Pictures, Orca didn’t net Jaws’ grosses or respect, with many critics dismissing it as overwrought and ridiculous. Well, of course it is. It’s...

Who are the real monsters? The humans or the creatures that terrorize them. It’s a classic monster movie theme that, dare I say, can’t really be approached in a new way after over 70 yrs of creature features. Sure, it’s a trope of the genre that has effectively won over my heart time and time again. And yet, it feels a little forced and hollow when it takes a backseat to explosions, destruction, and roars from gigantic titans.

In Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, the crypto-zoological agency, Monarch, is under fire as the government wants to take over their monster-hunting activities. Meanwhile, they have been able to locate several god-sized monsters, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed Ghidorah. Monarch’s Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) has developed a device known as the “Orca” which allows communication with the creatures by layering the sounds of species to create sonic-waves…...

In the aftermath of Godzilla (2014) the entire world has become a WWE wrestling ring for ancient and radioactive monsters called titans all itching for another scrap. Luckily, they’re all safely locked away in secret underground Monarch bases… Until Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) uses the Orca device (Google translate from human to titan) to restore the natural order of things – humans and titans living together in perfect harmony like they did eons ago… Yeah, that will totally workout well for everybody involved.

Okay, Godzilla: King of The Monster (2019) is plain head-splittingly bonkers. No, it really is. Firstly, Dr. Emma Russell’s utopian plan is hijacked by eco-terrorist Jonah Alan (Charles Dance) who truly embraced Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) stoic words “Let them fight” from the first film. Why, you might ask? Well, Godzilla and titan slugfests are good for the planet much like a forest fire cleanses the deadwood from the forest.

At last, Godzilla: King of the Monsters brings us a great Hollywood take on everyone's favorite giant monster.

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Fans of Godzilla movies--and the kaiju genre overall--don’t have a high bar of expectations when they sit down to enjoy a movie about giant monsters beating the shit out of each other. Essentially, that is exactly what we want to see: titanic creatures clobbering each other and smashing the hell out of whatever unfortunately gets in their way, usually in the form of entire cities. Of course we want to see it done well; noticing a zipper running down the back of King Ghidorah’s spine can take you out of the fantasy just as easily as the buildings looking too much like papier-mache as they crumble. We don’t need to be enlightened, but we don’t want to be insulted either.

So why has it been...

Remember Star Wars 1313? Of course you do; it single-handedly stole the show at E3 2012, only to be canceled the following year when Disney ceased development of all LucasArts projects – 1313 included.

The game itself was said to be much more mature in its style and tone, and would chronicle Boba Fett’s early years attempting to make ends meet within the underbelly of Coruscant. Sadly, 1313 never escaped development limbo, and it appears that EA has now sentenced its open world Star Wars game to a similar fate.

Rumored to be titled Orca, Kotaku has revealed that the doomed project involved “playing as a scoundrel or bounty hunter who could explore various open-world planets and work with different factions across the Star Wars universe.” On paper, it sounds like a video game good enough to fill the void left by Star Wars 1313, though sadly, it too will be joining LucasArts’ project in the pixelated graveyard.

EA Games had been developing a big new open-world Star Wars game since 2018. They took on the project after they closed down Visceral Games. When previously talking about the project, they explained:

“It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design. A development team from across EA Worldwide Studios will take over development of this game, led by a team from EA Vancouver that has already been working on the project.”

It sounded like it could be pretty promising! According to inside sources who talked to Kotaku, the project went by the code-named Orca, and it would have involved “playing as a scoundrel or bounty hunter who could explore various open-world planets and work with different factions across the Star Wars universe.”

Unfortunately, while the project was still early on in development,...

John Saavedra Jan 16, 2019

Another Star Wars game has been canceled by EA. This time, it's the open-world game being developed by EA Vancouver...

Electronic Arts has canceled another Star Wars game, this time an open-world title in development at EA Vancouver, according to Kotaku. Codenamed Orca, the game was still in the early phases of development. The outlet reports that EA decided to cancel the project because the publisher feared the game would not be ready for a 2020 release date. EA Vancouver will instead begin work on another, "smaller-scale" Star Wars game.

Little is known about Orca except that it was to feature open-world gameplay. Job listings in early 2018 suggested that the game would have had an online component as well, including matchmaking and live services. According to Kotaku, Orca would have allowed players to "explore various open-world planets and work with different factions" with either a "scoundrel or bounty hunter" character.