In this Nov. 3, 2015 file photo, Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw, right, sits with Maryland head coach Brenda Frese for a live interview with sportscaster David Lloyd, left, on SportsCenter at ESPN in Bristol, Conn. About a decade after the state had high hopes of luring major movies, Connecticut is now actively courting the television and digital media industry, working to attract and grow companies that can meet the burgeoning demand for the content used across multiple platforms. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
By Susan Haigh
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) --
Connecticut is trying to carve out a niche in the television and digital media industry.
The state's Office of Film, Television and Digital Media, is focused on attracting and growing companies that can meet the burgeoning demand for the content across multiple platforms ranging from cable to YouTube.
In April, the office co-sponsored the inaugural Tribeca Digital Creators Market, a marketplace where creators of online and digital content can connect with buyers, producers and agents.
The push comes a decade after the state had high hopes of becoming known as Hollywood East, creating a tax incentive program to attract both digital and major motion pictures. Today, that credit is no longer available for film production.
State officials say they're trying to shift away from "short-term gains" and create permanent jobs.
Indian film directors Shyam Benegal, right, is seen during a discussion on Indian Cinema in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A, File)
Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. He was 90.
His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He was also credited with a new genre of filmmaking.
Benegal passed away on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, and his cremation will take place on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing his daughter Piya.
"Benegal had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," Piya said.
Many paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on social media platform X.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote that Benegal told stories without pretense. "They were raw and real, about the struggles of ordinary people. His films had craft and conviction."
"Deeply saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
He was a mentor to top Indian actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri who made their mark in Bollywood's popular cinema as well.
"I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say," posted Naseeruddin Shah.
"Shyam Benegal was not just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations," said actor Manoj Bajpayee.
Benegal came into the limelight in the 1970s, with a series of films that challenged mainstream Bollywood. His films Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)... Read More
