Boyzone: A journey through fame and tragedy
Sky Documentaries is set to release a compelling three-part series titled Boyzone, which delves into the highs and lows of the iconic Irish boyband from the 1990s. This documentary promises to offer an intimate look at the lives of Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, and Michael Graham, who open up about their experiences in the band that sold over 25 million records worldwide.
Behind the scenes of Boyzone
For the first time in three decades, the band members provide rare and exclusive interviews, sharing their personal stories and the challenges they faced with global fame. They discuss the strained relationships and tragic events that have left a lasting impact on their lives, families, and friendships. The documentary also explores key moments that shaped Boyzone, including the intense tabloid scrutiny in 1990s Britain, which forced Stephen Gately to come out, and the devastating tragedy of Gately’s death after their sensational comeback in 2007.
This series is a production of Curious Films, commissioned by Sky Documentaries. It is directed by Sophie Oliver and executive produced by Dov Freedman and Charlie Russell, with Tom Barry and Hayley Reynolds serving as executive producers for Sky.
Busan International Film Festival: A spotlight on new talents
The Busan International Film Festival is set to feature a new currents competition section, with exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof as the head of the jury. Rasoulof, known for his works like A Man of Integrity and There Is No Evil, brings a unique perspective to the festival. He recently presented The Seed of the Sacred Fig at Cannes after escaping from Iran, where he served a prison sentence for criticizing the government.
Joining Rasoulof on the jury are Korean director Lee Myung-se, Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu, Indian actress Kani Kusruti, and Vanya Kaludjercic, festival director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The New Currents section focuses on first and second-time Asian features, with the jury selecting two winners who will each receive $30,000 prizes.
Screenwriters’ Lab: Nurturing new voices in Indian cinema
India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has announced the six projects selected for its 17th annual Screenwriters’ Lab. Among the chosen projects are Aakash Chhabra’s I’ll Smile in September, which follows a brass band player’s quest to recover from heartbreak, and Triparna Maiti’s Mangal – The Holy Beast, chronicling an elephant’s journey from captivity to deity status.
Other selected projects include Anuritta K. Jha’s Hawa Mithai, Anam Danish’s Kalaa Kaali, Uddhav Ghosh’s Konyak, and Piyush Srivastava’s Piyush Ki Toh…Nikal Padi. The program pairs writers with mentors and culminates in a pitch session to producers and investors at Film Bazaar in Goa, India.
Culinary Class Wars: A kitchen showdown on Netflix
Netflix is set to premiere Culinary Class Wars on September 17, a Korean unscripted series that pits 100 chefs against each other in a kitchen battle. The show features “black spoon” hidden masters, such as home-meal restaurant chefs and trendy pub owners, competing against Korea’s top “white spoon” star chefs, including Michelin-starred chefs and culinary survival show winners.
The series is judged by Paik Jong-won, Korea’s top restaurateur, and Anh Sung-jae of Mosu Seoul, Korea’s only three-star Michelin restaurant. Directed by Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, and written by Mo Eun-sol, Culinary Class Wars promises to be a thrilling culinary competition.
Adelaide Film Festival: A showcase of cinematic excellence
The Adelaide Film Festival has announced the first six films to be screened in October, including the world premiere of The Correspondent as the opening film. Directed by Kriv Stenders, the film stars Richard Roxburgh as Australian war correspondent Peter Greste, who was arrested and jailed in Cairo in 2013.
Other notable titles include All We Imagine as Light, Nightbitch starring Amy Adams, Songs Inside with music from inside a prison, Apple Original film Blitz directed by Steve McQueen, and Zak Hilditch’s horror title We Bury the Dead. The festival runs from October 23 to November 3.
The Kim Dotcom Story: A tale of tech and controversy
Kim Dotcom, the founder of file-sharing platform Megaupload, is set to be extradited to the U.S. on charges of fraud and copyright infringement. His story will be told in a six-part narrative series titled The Kim Dotcom Story, written by British author James Payne. The series is a co-production of ZDF Studios and Boogie Entertainment, with filming set to take place in Auckland and surrounding areas.
CMGO: A new streaming app for Chinese movies
Celestial Tiger Entertainment has launched CMGO, a new Chinese movie subscription streaming app in Singapore. Available on Singtel and StarHub for S$6.98 per month, CMGO offers a curated selection of the best movies from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Notable titles include I Did It My Way starring Andy Lau, Rob n Roll featuring Aaron Kwok, and The Goldfinger with Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Later this year, the Hong Kong blockbuster Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In will also be available on CMGO.
For more information and to watch trailers, visit the following links:
- Boyzone
- A Man of Integrity
- There Is No Evil
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig
- I’ll Smile in September
- Mangal – The Holy Beast
- Hawa Mithai
- Kalaa Kaali
- Konyak
- Piyush Ki Toh…Nikal Padi
- Culinary Class Wars
- The Correspondent
- All We Imagine as Light
- Nightbitch
- Songs Inside
- Blitz
- We Bury the Dead
- The Kim Dotcom Story
- I Did It My Way
- Rob n Roll
- The Goldfinger
- Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In