In this Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi poses for a photo during the premiere of his film, "The Salesman," in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
PARIS (AP) --
The Cannes Film Festival is opening with a Spanish-language film — a psychological thriller starring Penelope Cruz — the first time since 2004 that the star-studded event is kicking off with a movie that's not in English or French.
Organizers announced Thursday that "Everybody Knows," by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, will open the May 8-19 festival.
The film follows family intrigues and the moral dilemmas of a woman whose life is turned upside down when she leaves Argentina for Spain. In addition to Cruz, it stars Spanish actor Javier Bardem and Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin.
Farhadi won best foreign film Oscars for "A Separation" and "The Salesman."
Cate Blanchett is leading the jury of this year's festival, which comes as the industry is under upheaval over revelations of sexual misconduct.
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
