The industry is mourning director Ted Demme, 37, who died Sunday, Jan. 13, after suffering cardiac arrest during a celebrity basketball game in Santa Monica. Known primarily as a feature director, Demme was represented for spotwork by Creative Film Management International, New York. Cause of death had yet to be determined at press time. He is survived by his wife; their two children; his parents; and a sister….Bicoastal commercial production house Moxie Pictures has entered into a relationship with New York-based music video company Notorious. Plans call for select directors at Moxie to be available for videos via Notorious, and for talent at Notorious to possibly get into the spot arena via Moxie…. Maya Brewster has been named East Coast head of sales for bicoastal Partizan. She will also assume the role of executive producer, working with Shelia Stepanek, Partizan’s senior executive producer…. Director Robert Logevall who recently exited production company Bruce Dowad Associates, Los Angeles, and Drew Miller, formerly a sales agent with repping firm Stenz and Miller, New York, now known as Stenz and Company, have teamed up to launch a production house. The new company is currently awaiting legal clearance on its moniker….Chuck Pfeifer has joined owner/director Gary Lankford, and directors Clay Peres and Jacob Williams at Lankford Films. Pfeifer will serve as the company’s head of sales. Lankford Films is based in Houston, and has additional bases of operation at Johnson/Burnett’s Los Angeles and New York facilities….Director Kim Geldenhuys has signed with bicoastal Bob Industries for stateside representation….Director Michael Spiller—whose helming credits include seven episodes of HBO’s Sex and The City—has signed with Los Angeles-based production house coma industries for commercials. Spiller is no stranger to the ad arena, having earlier in his career served as a DP on numerous spots….Director Rich Wafer is joining Los Angeles-based Visitor….Former Olive Jar principal Matthew Charde has taken on the newly created position of senior VP/director of multimedia and entertainment at Euro RSCG Circle, Boston, where he will focus on creating and producing various forms of digital media for the branding agency’s global client roster….Michael Mark, president/creative director of San Diego-based matthews/mark, has left the ad agency to pursue other interests…. Cool Bean Digital Audio, New York, has changed its name to Tonic. The audio facility, which is based in midtown, recently opened an additional operation in Thirteen/WNET’s New York office, signaling an expansion into longform television and film work, diversifying beyond its established base in commercials….Dana Townsend has been named executive producer at Santa Monica-based visual effects house Colorado. She previously served in the same role at Radium, the digital effects company with bases of operation in San Francisco and Santa Monica….
India’s Official Oscar Entry, Which Failed To Make The Cut, Tops Bollywood Awards Show With 10 Wins
The film that was submitted as India's official Oscar entry but failed to make the final list of nominees has swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards, which recognize outstanding work in the country's film industry.
Director Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed "Laapataa Ladies" — renamed "Lost Ladies" for its Oscar campaign — emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 IIFA Awards, bagging 10 wins, including best picture and best direction.
The 2023 comedy is about two veiled brides who are accidentally swapped during a train ride, and tackles issues of patriarchy and gender roles, a shift from decades of male-centered mainstream Indian movies.
"It's a rare privilege to win an award for a film like 'Laapataa Ladies.' It's been a wonderful night. It's a rare privilege to make a film like this," Rao said in her acceptance speech.
Rao's film — a rare departure from most Bollywood films, which typically feature song-and-dance routines, violence and melodrama — also won in categories for best story, best screenplay and best actress in a leading role.
The annual ceremony of IIFA began in the western city of Jaipur on Saturday and concluded Sunday.
Indian cinema's most recognizable names took part in the glitzy event and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and actor Shahid Kapoor were among those who performed at the ceremony. The event was hosted by veteran director and producer Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan.
The awards show also presents an opportunity for Indian celebrities to showcase their fashion, and this year was no exception. Notable figures such as Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor Khan displayed their fashion choices on the green carpet.
Read More