Matthew Pomerans, executive producer at Santa Monica-based Area 51 Films, died this past weekend (1/26) in Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack. He was 38. Prior to joining Area 51 last year, Pomerans was an executive producer at now defunct Satellite. He is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Hannah and Sophie, and parents Erica and Arnold Pomerans. Area 51 intends to establish a charitable fund to benefit Matthew’s children….Director Simon West, formerly of now defunct Propaganda Films, has joined Los Angeles-headquartered Ritts/Hayden for commercial representation….Director Barbara McDonough has signed with bicoastal Go Film. She comes over from bicoastal/international Partizan….Director Jesper Ericstam has joined Los Angeles-headquartered Original Film for U.S. spot representation….. Marjie Abrahams has been promoted from executive producer to VP/exec producer at bicoastal RSA USA. She’s been a staffer there for the past eight years. Being upped from head of production to executive producer is Fran McGivern, who’s served on staff at RSA USA for the last three years. Abrahams and McGivern both continue to report to RSA USA managing director Jules Daly…. Santa Monica-based music/sound design shop stimmüng has created a division featuring DJ/radio personality Liza Richardson. The new, as yet unnnamed venture will offer music licensing, research, music supervision and consulting services to stimmüng’s ad agency clients….Minneapolis-based composers Eric Pilhofer and Mark Henderson have teamed to form a creative music and sound scoring shop, Pilhofer & Henderson Music…. Editor John Anklow has joined New York creative editorial house 3 Fingered Louie….The Cut Hut, formed in 1997 by editors Dave Farr and Shursen Parsad, and producer/editor Randy Edwards, closed last month. According to Parsad, the company remained profitable, but the partners decided to amicably split in order to take on individual pursuits in the post business….
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.
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