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    “Birdman” To Open Philadelphia Film Festival

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    "Birdman" (image from Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    “Wild” selected for closing night celebration

    PHILADELPHIA --

    The 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival, running from Oct. 16-26, has set its lineup of films, among the highlights being the selection of “Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” as the opening night film, with “Wild” slated for the closing night celebration.

    “Birdman” is Alejandro González Iñárritu’s much anticipated feature starring Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts and Emma Stone. It will kick off the festival on Thursday, Oct. 16. The event’s closing night celebration will take place on Friday, October 24, with “Wild,” director Jean-Marc Vallée’s lauded feature starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Gabby Hoffman. The Philadelphia Film Festival will continue through the weekend, wrapping up with second screenings of Jury Competition films and festival favorites on Sunday, October 26.

    Centerpiece screenings at the Philadelphia Film Festival are: “The Good Lie” directed by Philippe Falardeau, “The Imitation Game” directed by Morten Tyldum, “Laggies” directed by Lynn Shelton, and “St. Vincent” directed by Theodore Melfi.

    The 11-day Philadelphia Festival will showcase more than 100 films from 28 countries.

    The full Philadelphia Film Festival schedule and digital Festival Program Guide can be accessed here.

    Tags:BirdmanPhiladelphia Film Festival



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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