Tokyo Festival Asian Lineup Leans on Family Dramas Amid Geopolitical Volatility

At a Tokyo event, director Ulrike Ottinger said her Isabelle Huppert vampire film “The Blood Countess” was cut against her wishes. The remarks highlight a dispute over creative control and final cut in filmmaking.

Shahrbanoo Sadat and Jelena Maksimović criticized discrimination in film funding during a talk at the Tokyo International Film Festival. They highlighted barriers that filmmakers face in accessing financing and how these inequities affect whose stories reach the screen.

Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens has endorsed a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. The cross-party endorsement is unusual and could affect the Senate race by signaling discontent or strategic calculation. Al Jazeera reports on her reasons and the political implications.

Savannah Guthrie shared a new post asking the public for information about her mother’s disappearance. She said her family aches for her and cries out for answers. The appeal raises attention to the case and seeks leads that could help locate her.

Sanfic Industria has highlighted a selection of debut film projects backed by experienced producers, according to SI head Gabriela Sandoval. The lineup spotlights emerging filmmakers and industry networking at the Santiago festival’s industry section.