Buddy Launches AI Sandboxes on Product Hunt

Disney is expected to lay off thousands of employees in its biggest round of job cuts this year, according to Variety. The cuts at a major entertainment company signal continued cost-cutting across the media industry and will affect a large number of workers.

Triin Tramberg has become artistic director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival as it marks its 30th edition. She said the festival must remain bold, unpredictable and accessible. The appointment matters as Estonia’s flagship film event balances international industry profile with audience appeal.

Mohammad Rasoulof cited Jafar Panahi’s new prison sentence as he and O Mipo received Tokyo’s Kurosawa Akira Award. Rasoulof said Iranian cinema continues to face repression, highlighting the crackdown on Iranian filmmakers and international solidarity with them.

Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young will star in a Disney+ and Hulu adaptation of the popular webtoon “The Remarried Empress.” The casting brings a major webtoon property to global streaming audiences. It matters as a high-profile Korean content launch across Disney platforms.

Japanese actor Isomura Hayato discussed a role he was warned against taking, his work judging Tokyo’s Ethical Film Award, and his call for government backing for Japanese cinema in a Variety interview. The comments highlight pressures facing Japanese filmmakers and the industry’s push for public support.