The organisers of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) have officially announced the jury board for the Asian Films Competition segment of its upcoming edition.

The actor captivated the audience by reciting shayari in the style of her iconic character, evoking memories of the beloved film.

The project was first announced in January, with plans to start shooting the following month. However, despite early buzz, production never commenced. Huda explained that the delays stemmed from unresolved issues in the story.

"Wicked" has spent two decades dismantling that framework. What began on Broadway as a renegade act of revisionism has now expanded on screen into Jon M Chu’s two-part cinematic saga, which is unhurried, emotionally layered, and audaciously uninterested in letting romance or heroism overshadow the real heart of Oz: the evolving, often painful bond between Elphaba and Glinda. Chu’s adaptation understands that audiences come pre-loaded with assumptions.

To make his case, he pointed to the polished but hollow brilliance of AI-generated mashups — those uncanny clips that fuse iconic artists into impossible collaborations.

With post-pandemic crowds returning and pre-release ticketing now a regular phenomenon, the chain’s programming choices have helped define the year’s most commercially and culturally significant releases.

A source involved with the project shared that filming is expected to begin in the latter half of 2026.

Hollywood’s awards season accelerates today as nominations for the Golden Globes are announced, with the hit musical “Wicked: For Good”, Shakespearean family drama “Hamnet” and period horror “Sinners” emerging as early frontrunners.

Netflix has unveiled the release date for “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man”, the long-awaited feature film that revives the Birmingham crime saga four years after the series finale. Written by creator Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper, the film brings the Shelby family back into a world overshadowed by war and old enemies.

Raihan Rafi’s much-awaited web-film “Omimangshito” is finally set for release on iScreen.

Ruhul Amin Babul, a long-time film producer and director in the Dhallywood industry and the husband of veteran actress Nuton, has died after a protracted battle with cancer, colleagues said. He passed away on Saturday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka, the Directors’ Association official Kabirul Islam Rana confirmed.

From psychological dramas to social commentaries, these films have pushed boundaries and redefined contemporary Bengali filmmaking.

The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has voiced serious concerns over Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, warning that the move could undermine India’s theatrical sector and the country’s wider film economy.

This year’s panel includes renowned Bangladeshi actress and director Afsana Mimi, who will evaluate films alongside creative professionals from four other countries.

British actor Hugh Grant has expressed strong frustration with the rise of the streaming era, following Netflix’s massive takeover of Warner Bros Discovery.

Rumman Rashid Khan is back with the second season of his popular podcast “Behind the Fame with RRK”. The podcast, aired on Maasranga Television and Radio Din Raat 93.6 FM, gained immense popularity during its first season.

Director Rubaiyat Hossain has been developing her film “The Difficult Bride” for many years. She travelled to various international film festivals with the screenplay and secured global funding. Now, the cast has finally been announced.

Actor Abdun Noor Shajal has signed a new film titled “Durbar”, in which he will be paired opposite Apu Biswas. The project marks Shajal’s second consecutive film after recently completing the shoot of the government-granted project Shapla Shaluk, co-starring Shobnom Bubly and directed by Rasheda Akhter Lajuk.

The project expands Netflix’s blockbuster “Extraction” franchise, incorporating Korean filmmaking excellence into the streamer’s most successful action property.

The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival — now one of the Middle East’s largest cinema events — opened yesterday in Jeddah, marking a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding film industry.