Director/creative director Jake Banks, executive producer Matthew Marquis and head of VFX Guillaume Marien have teamed to form Golden, a production and post company based in Venice, Calif. Launching in response to the ever-changing industry model, Golden is a multi-disciplinary studio focused on the fusion of high-end live action production, design, animation and visual effects. Banks and Marquis earlier founded Stardust, a commercial production company where Banks served as owner and director. After nearly a decade at the helm of that company, Banks had a stint on the directorial roster of Prettybird. Marquis most recently prior to Golden worked at Logan where he helped launch the live action division Logan and Sons. Guillaume is the creator of Mathematic, a motion design studio devoted to creating cutting edge visuals with an innovative approach to postproduction…. Director and VFX artist Anders Rostad has joined the roster of DNA. Anders previously served as creative director and head of video production for RAM Magazine, and has been a freelance director and VFX artist since 2010. Rostad joins DNA after a string of successful projects including directing “Last Chance” for Grammy-nominated electronic artist Kaskade and an innovative series of network IDs for Hub for the 2012 and 2013 summer campaigns. He also designed a series of video billboards featured in Times Square for Aeropostale and JVC’s New Year’s campaigns….James Cunningham has joined Stink, serving as EP out of the company’s London office. He was most recently head of content at Academy Films. Cunningham began his career as an account man at TBWA, London and Mustoe Merriman Levy. He then moved to Cape Town, working at Suburban Films, where he was instrumental in setting up Film South Africa, a body designed to unify the country’s production industry under one global marketing strategy. After three years in South Africa, Cunningham returned to London and joined Academy Films as its head of content in 2008….NY-based Northern Lights has promoted Jon Simpson to editor. While working as an assistant editor since joining the company in 2010, he has contributed to a wide variety of campaigns for such top clients as USA Network, TruTV and Al Jazeera America. In 2013, he took home the top prize at the AICE Camp Kuleshov trailer editing contest for “Screwloose,” his horror take on a trailer for the 1980s dance musical Footloose….
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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