AGP Executive Report

Documentary Recognition: GMA Pictures’ animated doc “58th” won the Facing the Edge award at New Zealand’s Doc Edge Festival, with its Asia-Pacific premiere in Auckland. Industry Apology: Cinematographer Pratik Shah issued a public apology after nearly 20 women accused him of emotional abuse and misconduct, saying he’s been in therapy and sober for over a year. Box Office Buzz: Akshay Kumar’s “Welcome To The Jungle” hit about ₹128.85 crore worldwide by day 6, moving past “O’Romeo” to become 2026’s 5th highest-grossing Bollywood film. New Horror Franchise Play: Warner Bros. is developing “Siren Head” with Zach Cregger and Brian Duffield, aiming to turn the internet cryptid into a feature horror. Theatrical Tech Upgrade: Hoyts rolled out Tricorne LED “APEX” immersive screens with Dolby Atmos at two Australian locations. Festival Spotlight: Stuttgart Indian Film Festival puts Malayalam cinema front and center, running July 23–26. Streaming/Classic Nostalgia: Windows Movie Maker 6.0 resurfaced via an Internet Archive upload tested on Windows 7/10/11.

Nonprofit Takeover Talks: Performing Arts Centers of Key West (PACKW) is in talks with the Key West Film Society to take over operations of Tropic Cinema, aiming to preserve its mission while securing long-term nonprofit leadership. Copyright Clash: India’s Delhi High Court restrained composer Ilaiyaraaja from broadcasting songs from 134 films in a Saregama dispute, drawing a line between musical work rights and film sound-recording rights. Legal Stay: India’s Supreme Court stayed a criminal trial tied to an officer accused of secretly filming an Anand collector in a spy-camera blackmail case. Superhero Buzz: Helen Slater praised Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, calling her fierce and great with comic timing, even as reviews remain mixed. DCU Rumor: Martian Manhunter may appear in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, though DC Studios hasn’t confirmed it. Streaming Moves: Paramount’s World War Z is now on Prime Video, and Netflix added George Clooney/John Krasinski’s Leatherheads. Indie Distribution Push: Alamo Drafthouse launched Alamo Exclusives to book unreleased festival indie films for limited runs. Tech Meets Cinema: The Vera Rubin Observatory has started its decade-long “cosmic movie” survey with a massive 3200-megapixel camera. Horror Franchise Casting: Sonia Mena and Maya da Costa are set to star in the next Paranormal Activity film. Box Office/Release Watch: Enola Holmes 3 debuts with a lower Rotten Tomatoes streak end, while Obsession surged to No. 1 on Apple TV charts.

EU Deal Update: Paramount Skydance offered remedies to address EU competition concerns over its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, with the EU deadline pushed to July 22 and a likely path to approval. Streaming/Distribution Shakeup: Neon acquired Luca Guadagnino’s OpenAI drama Artificial after Amazon MGM dropped it, setting up an awards push for the nearly finished $40M film starring Andrew Garfield. Franchise Trailer Buzz: Warner Bros. released the trailer for Practical Magic 2, bringing back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens family faces a new curse. Local Moviegoing & Community: Cambridge’s Downing Site will host free outdoor screenings in August, while Paraguay’s mobile cinema initiative Ñande Cine brings Paraguayan films to smaller communities via an inflatable screen. Film Industry & Policy: Leeds City Council approved relaxed rules allowing babies into 15 and 18-rated screenings, and Malta launched a €2m upskilling fund plus crew standards framework. On-Screen News: Enola Holmes 3 heads to Malta for its next chapter, and Minions & Monsters shifts the franchise to 1920s Hollywood.

Neon’s Big Move: Luca Guadagnino’s Sam Altman biopic “Artificial,” starring Andrew Garfield, has been dropped by Amazon MGM and snapped up by Neon for global rights, with the film set to compete for Oscars. Marvel Pipeline: Simu Liu has been cast in the upcoming sci-fi survival “Homewrecker,” starting July 15 in Paris, as he juggles Avengers: Doomsday and the lead-up to Secret Wars. AI Meets Pop Culture: Netflix and ElevenLabs are reviving Gene Wilder’s voice for “Wonka’s The Golden Ticket,” a Gold Coast-shot reality series premiering Sept. 23. Digital Ownership Shock: Sony says PlayStation users will lose access to 550 Studio Canal titles from Sept. 1, 2026, with no refunds. DC Fallout Watch: “Supergirl” is still drawing heat after reports of a massive Warner Bros. loss. Local Industry Boost: Italy’s cinemas and productions are ramping up green certifications and energy efficiency, while a new Vancouver studio aims to bring more B.C. shoots back home. Tech + Talent: A BAFTA-winning UK Cypriot cinematographer, Andrew Hambis Michael Mitchell, is recognized for work on “The Very Small Creatures.”

Superhero Shake-Up: Warner Bros.’ “Supergirl” is under fresh scrutiny after reports of a steep $100M-plus loss outlook and a likely breakeven closer to $300M, following a weak debut that’s already being framed as a setback for DC’s reboot. Animated Franchise Refresh: Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters” heads to 1920s Hollywood, with Pierre Coffin pitching the era shift as a way to keep the long-running franchise feeling new. Big Cast, Big Emigration Story: Netflix’s “Bad Bridgets” adds Colin Farrell and Steve Coogan to a Great Famine-era sisters-and-escape saga. Kids’ Film Pipeline: India’s SCIFF 2026 opens submissions for school screenings, inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit work completed after Jan 1, 2024. Streaming Buzz: Prime Video is pushing new thriller picks for July 1–6, including a dark romance starring Timothée Chalamet and other fresh arrivals. Box Office Watch: IMDb’s most-anticipated Indian slate for late 2026 is led by Ranbir Kapoor’s “Ramayana Part 1,” with “Alpha” and “Toxic” close behind. Local Industry Moves: Jakarta launches a film commission to streamline permits and lure productions with location support.

DC Shake-Up: Warner Bros. has officially cast the next Batman, while Clayface rumors suggest the DCU horror spinoff may avoid mentioning the Dark Knight as it reshapes priorities after Supergirl’s weak debut. Box Office Watch: Supergirl’s underperformance is being framed as a potential $100M+ loss risk for Warner Bros., and the film’s failure is already being linked to how James Gunn’s DCU moves next. Streaming & Releases: Netflix’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael has overtaken Oppenheimer to become the top-grossing biopic, and Tom Cruise’s Born on the Fourth of July lands on Netflix July 1. New Titles: Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s Alpha is cleared by the CBFC with a UA 16+ rating ahead of its July 3 theatrical run. Global Film News: India’s I&B Ministry forms a study group led by Prasoon Joshi to boost cinema competitiveness, including AI and virtual production. Festival Spotlight: Palestinian-Israeli filmmaker Shady Srour’s Fadia wins major prizes at Monte-Carlo. Local Culture: Georgia’s Unscripted event spotlights the state’s unscripted and film ecosystem, while multiple communities host free outdoor movie nights and screenings. Tech Meets Movies: A new documentary, Monster Maker, is in production on Stan Winston’s legacy.

Box Office & Releases: “Toy Story 5” stays No.1 as “Minions & Monsters” and “Supergirl” struggle, while July’s UK slate spotlights “Minions & Monsters,” plus big-screen returns like Spider-Man and major summer titles. DCU Buzz: Tom Holland hints he wants Miles Morales in the MCU, and a new rumor claims Batman has been cast for “The Brave and the Bold.” Animation Wins: Singapore’s “The Violinist” makes history by winning the Cristal for Best Feature at Annecy, with “Iron Boy” also taking top honors. Film Industry Moves: Fosun breaks ground on a Shaw Brothers Movietown residential project in Hong Kong, and the Shanghai International Film & TV Market reports record global participation. Streaming/Access: PlayStation says it will delete 551 Studio Canal titles from UK accounts from Sept 1, 2026. Cultural Spotlight: Doha Film Institute announces 2026 Spring Grants across 48 projects, backing emerging and established filmmakers across MENA and beyond. Local Filming: A Hertfordshire village shopping parade set to close for a film shoot on July 1. Controversy Watch: “Artificial” (Luca Guadagnino) is reportedly dropped by Amazon MGM, fueling speculation about what’s behind the sudden exit.

Box Office Shake-Up: “Toy Story 5” stayed No. 1 with $70M domestic and $585M global in two weeks, while Warner/DC’s “Supergirl” opened far below expectations—$38M domestic and $68M worldwide on a $170M budget, with polarizing reviews (56% RT) hurting momentum. DCU Creative Debate: The “Supergirl” ending is still sparking fan backlash; director Craig Gillespie and writer Ana Nogueira say the darker finale was always in the script and backed by James Gunn. Streaming Buzz: AMC’s dark western thriller “Dark Winds” is still hanging in Top 10 on AMC+ weeks after Season 4 ended, proving slow-burn prestige can keep pulling viewers. AI + Classification: The UK BBFC used AI to help classify streaming titles (officer review still required) and reported a record year for cinema ratings. Local Cinema Moment: Everett’s free “Sail-In Cinema” returns with a Friday lineup on an inflatable screen, including “Back to the Future” and “Zootopia 2.” Tamil Cinema Loss: Filmmaker K Bhagyaraj died at 73; tributes highlighted his screenplay-first storytelling legacy.

Tamil Cinema Farewell: K Bhagyaraj was cremated in Chennai with full state honours after his cardiac arrest death at 73, with CM C. Joseph Vijay announcing the tribute and Rajinikanth, M.K. Stalin and other stars attending; the industry also cancelled shooting schedules. On-Set Payment Row: Laapataa Ladies actor Satendra Soni and others allege a Madhya Pradesh shoot turned violent after they demanded pending dues, with threats reported and AICWA backing calls for an FIR. New Epic Update: Matt Damon says Nolan’s The Odyssey had “no special treatment,” describing filming as a cold, equal-footing “expedition.” Animation Buzz: At Annecy, SS Rajamouli confirmed Varanasi is standalone (not a franchise), with father-son stakes plus Ramayana-inspired spectacle and a planned April 2027 theatrical release. Streaming Watch: Netflix added Julian Schnabel’s In the Hand of Dante quietly, despite a Venice reception that didn’t translate into big top-10 traction. Controversy Online: Citizen Vigilante, effectively blocked in Germany, resurfaced globally after being posted on X by Elon Musk and Uwe Boll. Industry Training: Doha Film Institute opened applications for its Filmmaking Lab led by Oscar nominee Rithy Panh for MENA filmmakers (Sep 2026–Mar 2027).

DC Spotlight: Milly Alcock’s gritty “Supergirl” hits theaters, with Helen Slater backing the new take as DC leans into riskier, heavier space-opera tones. Horror Watch: “Obsession” lands on Amazon Prime Video June 29 after a TIFF/May theatrical run, promising a darker “be careful what you wish for” vibe. Animation & Franchise: Warner Bros. Animation is rebooting “Tom & Jerry” as a new feature, while Tom Hanks worries AI could replace his “Toy Story” voice and extend the franchise. Streaming Rights Shock: PlayStation warns hundreds of “previously purchased” StudioCanal movies will vanish from libraries Sept. 1 due to licensing. Controversy Online: Elon Musk reposts Uwe Boll’s “Citizen Vigilante” after Germany blocks it, reigniting debate over vigilantism and migrants. New Releases: Nivin Pauly unveils “Vijayam,” his 50th film with Alphonse Puthren, and Sony/Marvel share a comics-faithful BTS vignette for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Industry Loss: Tamil cinema mourns K. Bhagyaraj, with tributes pouring in after his reported cardiac arrest at 73.

DC Universe Shake-Up: Ana Nogueira says the cancelled DCEU Supergirl movie (with Sasha Calle) would’ve been “completely different” in story and tone from the new DCU version starring Milly Alcock. Bollywood Box Office: Akshay Kumar’s ensemble comedy Welcome To The Jungle lands in theaters with a solid opening (about Rs 15 crore day one; Rs 18.75 crore incl. previews) and early positive word-of-mouth. Tamil Cinema Loss: Veteran filmmaker-actor K. Bhagyaraj dies at 73 after a heart attack; tributes pour in and Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announces state honours and visits the family. Global Film Controversy: Uwe Boll’s Citizen Vigilante is effectively blocked from German cinemas after failing to get a legal rating, with the director calling it political censorship. Streaming/Release Strategy: Apple’s first theatrical push of 2026, Tenzing, hits limited cinemas Oct 9 before streaming on Apple TV Oct 16. Animation News: Pixar previews Loving Dory and updates Gatto at Annecy, while Warner Bros. Animation unveils a new adult animated Dark Shadows series. New Titles: Nivin Pauly’s 50th film is titled Vijayam, and Nollywood epic King of Thieves debuts on Netflix after a big cinema run.

Icon Award: The Manila International Film Festival named Lea Salonga its inaugural Icon Award honoree, with the ceremony set for Sept. 6 in Beverly Hills. Theater Buzz: Supergirl hits cinemas with mixed reviews—critics at 58% vs audiences at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes—while local screenings also add fan moments like Krypto pet adoptions. Box Office Watch: Spider-Man: Brand New Day keeps climbing, with its second trailer racking up 590.8M views in a week as it targets a potential 2026 opening crown. DC Animation Expansion: Warner Bros. and DC Studios announced an Absolute Batman animated series in production, executive produced by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. Horror Franchise Update: Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 clarifies its writer as Gary Dauberman, following earlier confusion about David Robert Mitchell. New Releases at Home: This weekend’s streaming picks spotlight fresh titles like The Sheep Detectives and other newly added horror and family options. Global Film News: StudioCanal boosts its stake in Sam Productions to 51% and consolidates Meta Film and A&M Productions.

Academy News: The Oscars’ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has sent invitations to 529 new members for 2026, with 95 Oscar nominees and a bigger push toward women and underrepresented communities. UK Screen Industry: Greater Manchester is rolling out a £10.5m production fund to lure market-ready film and TV projects and grow local crews and skills. Big Franchise Buzz (India): The “Mirzapur: The Movie” teaser is out ahead of a Sept. 4 release, bringing back Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Divyenndu—plus a casting shake-up with Jitendra Kumar replacing Vikrant Massey as Bablu Pandit. Streaming/TV Adaptation: Emma Roberts is reprising her “Aquamarine” role for a Disney+ and Disney Channel series pilot, 20 years after the original film. Global Film Culture: Lea Salonga will receive MIFF’s inaugural Icon Award at the festival’s Sept. 6 Closing Night Gala. Cinema Business: Vue has permanently closed its flagship Cardiff Stadium Plaza venue after more than two decades. Animation/Family: DreamWorks confirmed “Donkey!”—a standalone Shrek spinoff—arrives in June 2028 with Eddie Murphy returning.

Streaming & Distribution: Paramount+ lands the crime-action thriller Wardriver on July 8, 2026, after a limited festival run, starring Dane DeHaan, Sasha Calle, and Mamoudou Athie. Documentary Spotlight: A new big-screen documentary, “From October 6 to October 7,” chronicles Maj. Gen. Doron Almog’s vow after the death of his brother and his work through ADI Negev–Nahalat Eran. Superhero Buzz: Supergirl hits cinemas with David Corenswet’s Superman playing a bigger, moral-guiding role than expected. Animation/Franchise News: Universal sets Shrek spin-off Donkey for June 30, 2028, with Eddie Murphy returning. Theatrical Classics: Citizen Kane returns for its 85th anniversary with select Fathom screenings and an intro by Leonard Maltin. Local Moviegoing: Hallmark and the Chicago Bears announce Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, filming around Chicago for a late-2026 premiere. True Crime: A former fire captain faces charges for allegedly secretly filming a nude stepdaughter with hidden cameras.

Oscar Buzz: Filipino short-film director Arvin Belarmino is among 529 new invitees to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, selected under the Short Films branch after Cannes/ Toronto recognition for “Agapito” and “Hinakdal.” Big-Screen Franchise: India’s “Mirzapur: The Movie” drops its teaser and locks a Sept 4, 2026 cinema debut, bringing back Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Divyenndu (plus Jitendra Kumar as Bablu Pandit and Ravi Kishan in a new role) for an “untold” 2018 origin-style chapter. DCU Watch: “Supergirl” coverage keeps rolling—writers say James Gunn was “protective” over Superman’s dialogue, and explain how the film (mostly) doesn’t set up “Man of Tomorrow” via post-credits. Production & Casting: Sofia Carson and Brian Tyree Henry’s “Last Night At The Lobster” starts filming in Winnipeg this fall with Elisabeth Moss also onboard. Global Industry: The European Commission is set to approve the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal, with possible remedies like Paramount exiting a Universal JV. Box Office: Homi Adajania’s “Cocktail 2” pushes past Rs 115 crore worldwide in its first week.

Cinema Tech Upgrade: HOYTS is rolling out “APEX” giant direct-view LED screens in Australia, part of a global shift away from projectors toward massive LED displays. DCU Buzz: Reviews and Rotten Tomatoes scores are landing harshly on Milly Alcock’s “Supergirl,” while DC teases what comes next after “Man of Tomorrow.” Streaming/Franchise Watch: Sony’s “24 Jump Street” is moving forward with talks for Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube to return. Home-Entertainment Deal: Prime Day is pushing big 4K Blu-ray and XR glasses discounts, fueling the “watch offline” trend. Indie & Global Premieres: “Bandit” lands a world premiere at Dances With Films; “Hope” and “Colony” headline the New York Asian Film Festival. New Releases: “In the Hand of Dante” is now streaming after its theatrical run. Classic Horror Revival: Clockwork releases a teaser for Ken Russell’s “The Devils” director’s cut in 4K for a fall theatrical run. Local Screen Culture: University of Idaho’s “Screen on the Green” brings “A Minecraft Movie” outdoors.